The Irvine Valley women’s soccer team battled, but came up on the short end in a 3-1 loss to Riverside in an Orange Empire Conference game at home Friday afternoon.
The Tigers stayed in the race for conference title with the victory. Riverside went into Friday’s action in third place in the conference, a half game behind Cypress and two and a half games behind first-place Santiago Canyon.
Riverside (12-2-3, 9-1-2) got on the board first on a goal by Nicole Cunningham in the 18th minute. The Tigers had a chance to increase their lead a few minutes later, but IVC goalie Daisy Garcia made a diving save on a penalty kick by Cunningham.
IVC’s best chance in the first half came in the closing minutes when sophomore defender Cassidy Minko sent a pass ahead to sophomore forward Nora Garcia. Garcia hit a shot that went just wide right.
Riverside took control, going up, 2-0, three minutes into the second half. A cross was sent into Alyssa Popov. She flicked the ball to Alana Wohlers, who found the back of the net.
Five minutes later Riverside went ahead, 3-0, on a goal by Popov. She fought through two IVC defenders and then beat Daisy Garcia.
The Lasers (3-13-3, 1-7-3) scored their goal in the 62nd minute. Sophomore midfielder Kacie Bigos made a run down the right sideline. She dribbled by a Riverside defender and then lofted a cross into the box that Nora Garcia headed in.
Daisy Garcia, filling in for normal starting goalie Lupe Jimenez, made four saves in goal for the Lasers and Riverside goalie Christina Beckerle had two saves.
IVC plays at Saddleback in a conference game next Tuesday at 3 p.m.