Irvine Valley's women's soccer team bounced back from a tough loss early in the week to record one of its best wins of the year Friday.
The Lasers beat district rival Saddleback, 1-0, behind a goal by a former Gaucho player in an Orange Empire Conference match at IVC.
IVC was coming off a tough 3-0 defeat at Cypress on Tuesday.
"I am happy for the girls," IVC coach Joe Supe said. "We have worked really hard in the last couple of days since the match at Cypress. Today was a big game and a big win. I was really happy to see us come through."
Friday's win moved Irvine Valley back into third place in the conference standings. The Lasers went into the match one point in back of Saddleback for third.
The Lasers improved their record to 7-2-3 overall and 4-2-1 in conference, while Saddleback's record slipped to 7-2-2 overall and 3-2-2 in conference.
Saddleback, which is ranked No. 8 in Southern California, hadn't lost in its last five matches going into the contest.
The Lasers had the best chance in an evenly played first half. Marissa Perez skimmed the crossbar with a shot from just outside the box in the 17th minute.
IVC took charge midway through the second half. Freshman Rosa Soto Aleman had a hard left-footed shot from inside the box saved by Saddleback keeper Alexandria Scott in the 65th minute.
Then, IVC sophomore forward Tiana Salazar had a shot saved by Scott.
A few minutes later, Saddleback's Danyelle Allen, who came into the match second in the conference in goals, had her best opportunity. But after a collision at the top of the box with an IVC defender, Allen couldn't get much on a shot that was saved by IVC freshman goalie Nicole Dunn.
In the 75th minute, sophomore midfielder and captain Courtney Smith found the game-winning goal for Irvine Valley.
She took a pass from Perez outside the box and sent a low shot to the left side of the goal that nicked off a diving Scott's fingertips and then hit the post and went in.
Smith was part of Saddleback's 13-4-6 team from a year ago that made the second round of the playoffs.
She transferred to IVC this past spring.
"Courtney has been a big addition to this team," Supe said. "She is a captain and a leader. I know she is pretty happy right now."
IVC's defense, led by sophomore Emely Portillo and freshmen Evelyn Lucatero, Christina Anderson and Virginia Hickman did the rest, stifling a Saddleback offense that had 26 goals on the season coming into the match.
Irvine Valley out-shot Saddleback, 8-3, in the contest.
"I thought we defended really well all the way around," Supe said. "And Emely (Portillo) did a great job on their goal scorer (Allen)."
Irvine Valley plays again on Tuesday, hosting Norco at 3 p.m. The match will wrap up the first half of conference play.
"Hopefully the result today helps send us into the second half of conference with some nice momentum," Supe said.
