Playing with its largest opening-day squad in four seasons, the Irvine Valley women's soccer team put in a strong effort in its first match of the 2007 campaign on Monday afternoon at home.
The Lasers, who suited up 16 players for the contest, battled El Camino tough for the first 50 minutes, before giving up three goals and losing, 3-0.
El Camino out-shot Irvine Valley, 13-5, in the contest. But the Lasers hit the post with three shots in the game, including one on a deep free kick by freshman midfielder Taylor Hoesterey late in the second half.
The first half was scoreless with El Camino out-shooting IVC, 6-3. The Lasers best chance to score came in the first half in the 24th minute when freshman midfielder Diana Suarez banged a shot off the crossbar after receiving a pass from sophomore midfielder Ana Velazquez. Velazquez also hit the post with a shot in the contest.
El Camino took a 1-0 lead in the ninth minute of the second half when Samira Yakuba scored on a volley in the box off a cross from Stephanie Hall. Hall assisted on El Camino’s next goal as well, feeding Iliana Gonzalez in the 64th minute.
El Camino put the game away in the 70th minute on a goal by Cynthia Lozano.
“For our first game of the season it was very encouraging,” IVC Coach Simon Davies said. “These are games to find out where we are at. We need to work on our fitness level a little bit, but overall I was very pleased. There were a lot of positives to take away from today’s game.”
Irvine Valley plays again on Thursday at Chaffey at 1 p.m.