After its first playoff appearance in 20 years and one of its best ever seasons, the Irvine Valley women's soccer team garnered much deserved attention on the all-Orange Empire Conference teams, which were released last month.
Irvine Valley, which finished with a record of 12-4-6 overall and 9-3-4 in conference for third place and also made the Southern California Regional Playoffs, had three players named first team all-conference and three more players selected to the second team.
Sophomore defender Emely Portillo, sophomore forward Tiana Salazar and freshman defender Evelyn Lucatero were each named to the first team, while freshman midfielder Brittany Jenkins, freshman forward Rosa Soto Aleman and freshman defender Marissa Perez were each picked to the second team.
Portillo, Lucatero and Perez where mainstays on the IVC defense and a big reason why IVC allowed just 17 goals all season. The Lasers recorded 11 shutouts, which was a school record.
Irvine Valley also only gave up more than two goals in two games all season.
Portillo, the captain of the defense, and Lucatero anchored the middle of the field on defense for the Lasers. Lucatero had one goal and two assists and Portillo added an assist on the year.
Portillo was a two-year starter for the Lasers.
Perez, who played on the outside and also made crucial runs up the field, had one goal and six assists on the year. She was second on the team in assists.
Salazar, another two-year starter, ranked second in the conference in assists with nine and seventh in points with 19 (five goals and nine assists).
Soto Aleman improved throughout the season for Irvine Valley and finished second on the team in goals with seven and also second in points with 17 (seven goals and three assists). She scored a goal in three straight games in October as IVC made its push toward the playoffs.
Jenkins was an important piece for Irvine Valley in the midfield, helping both offensively and defensively. Jenkins finished with one assist on the season.
Saddleback forward Danyelle Allen, who led the conference with 22 goals, was named MVP and Santiago Canyon's Ian Woodhead was selected as coach of the year.
