Men's soccer team can't take title from Santa Ana
Nov 10, 2006
The Irvine Valley men's soccer team tied Santa Ana, 1-1, Friday afternoon in the final game of the regular season.
But it felt more like a loss for the Lasers.
Irvine Valley needed to beat Santa Ana to win the Orange Empire Conference title.
Instead Santa Ana clinched its 12th straight conference title with the 1-1 tie at Irvine Valley.
The Dons (16-3-4, 11-1-2) remained two points in front of the Lasers (35 to 33) in the final conference standings.
The Lasers (14-3-4, 10-1-3) had their chances, especially with the match winding down.
Santa Ana took a 1-0 lead in the 19th minute on a goal by Ignacio Cruz. Cruz got a hold of a ball just outside the box on the right side, turned and then nailed a quick shot that beat IVC keeper Jesus Olivera into the upper left corner. Richardo Juarez earned the assist on the play.
Juarez nearly scored several minutes later, sending a header over the bar from close range.
Irvine Valley tied the game, 1-1, three minutes into the second half.
With Irvine Valley pressuring in the Santa Ana penalty area, Dons’ defender Felix Rosales tried to clear the ball out, but instead pushed it into the lower left corner of the net.
Irvine Valley midfielder Taylor Campbell was credited with the goal. The Lasers couldn’t score again, although they came close.
With five minutes left midfielder Roberto Linck sent a shot on a free kick from 20 yards out just over the crossbar.
Linck later chipped a ball on a free kick into the box, but no Laser player could get a head on it.
Irvine Valley’s final chance came on another free kick with a minute left.
Defender Darren Whitty sent a cross in from the right side. Laser player Scott Kea got his head on it, but couldn’t direct the ball on target.
“We played hard today and had a shot at it,” Irvine Valley Coach Martin McGrogan said. “That is the way it goes. I can’t fault our kids’ effort at all.”
Both Santa Ana and Irvine Valley now move on to the Southern California Regional playoffs. Playoff pairings will be announced early next week.
The first round is Saturday, Nov. 18. Santa Ana should be one of the top four seeds and receive a bye in the first round.
McGrogan expects his team to have a first round playoff game at home next Saturday.