Irvine Valley's women's soccer team scored in the 53rd minute and that goal held up as the Lasers defeated Santa Ana, 1-0, at home in an Orange Empire Conference match on Tuesday.
It was Irvine Valley's first conference victory of the year and improved the team's record to 4-7-2 overall and 1-4-0 in conference.
Santa Ana, which dropped its third straight contest, saw its record slip to 7-4-1 overall and 1-4-0 in conference.
Both teams had chances and combined for four shots that either hit the post or crossbar in the match.
Santa Ana had three shots by Ariana Figueroa that bounced off the post, including two in the first half.
Irvine Valley freshman defender Amanda Kutcher hit the crossbar with a long shot in the 35th minute.
IVC also had another good opportunity late in the first half, but freshman forward Betsabet Corrales' shot was just wide of the goal.
Corales made up for it early in the second half with what turned out to be the match-winning score.
She took a through ball from sophomore forward Cierra Savin, raced past the Santa Ana defense and then beat the keeper with a shot to the lower left to give Irvine Valley the 1-0- lead in the 53rd minute.
IVC freshman defender Sachi Singh almost scored on a volley a few minutes later.
Santa Ana had chances by Linda Gutierrez (save by Irvine Valley freshman keeper Heather Miller) and Figueroa (off the post), as well as Gutierrez just missing wide of the goal midway through the half.
Irvine Valley was able to hold on the rest of the way behind the defensive efforts of freshmen Sheida Suazo, Kutcher and Singh and sophomores Diana Lugo and Miller.
The Lasers play again on Friday at home against Saddleback in a conference match at 3 p.m.
