The Irvine Valley men's soccer team is looking to put a disappointing 2008 season behind it.

The Lasers dropped three out of their final four matches and missed the playoffs with a 8-10-3 overall record last season.

The 2009 team got off to a solid start on Thursday, playing right with two-time defending community college national champion Yavapai of Prescott, Ariz. in a scrimmage at Irvine Valley.

Yavapai, which offers scholarships to players, has won seven national titles in its 21-year history and is ranked No. 1 in this year's preseason poll.

Yavapai came out on top, 2-0, on Thursday after scoring one goal on a penalty kick and another on an IVC goalie mistake, but Laser Coach Martin McGrogan was impressed with the way his players battled.

"I certainly wasn't disappointed in our effort," McGrogan said. "And considering this stage of the season, if our guys keep training hard and stay focused, they will have a chance to be good."

IVC had one of the best chances to score in the first half when sophomore forward Luis Miguel hit the left post with a shot.

In the second half, freshman midfielder Nick Black's shot from distance looked to be headed in before Yavapai's goalie tipped it over the crossbar.

"We passed the ball very well and had a couple of great chances to score," McGrogan said. "We just couldn't quite pull it off. But I thought we maintained possession and matched them very well. That is a very good team."

IVC's starting defensive unit of Scott Drennen, Ryan Hardwick, Will Harrison and Alfie Nowak was solid.

"That group looked really sharp," McGrogan said.

McGrogan also liked the work done by sophomore midfielder Bryan Castillo, freshman midfielders Chris Popke and Facunda Chena and freshman forward Edward Zepeda.

Irvine Valley returns four key players from last year's squad. They are midfielders Brice Adams and Castillo, Harrison and goalie Julio Trijo.

Miguel is back after sitting out the last two seasons. He led the 2006 IVC team in scoring with 10 goals and three assists and forward Hyun-Jun Park returns from the 2007 squad.

"Looking at the whole group, I think they have the opportunity to get even better," McGrogan said. "If they continue to work real hard, they can achieve a lot."

IVC plays its first official match on Sept. 4 in the Hartnell Tournament.