Irvine Valley wins wild playoff game in overtime at home
Irvine Valley, seeded fourth, beats No. 13 Victor Valley, 2-1, in overtime thanks to a goal from distance by freshman defender Scott Clark. The Lasers improve to 15-2-5 overall and will host No. 5 Cuyamaca in the second round Tuesday.
Irvine Valley's men's soccer team came through in dramatic fashion in the first round of the Southern California Regional Playoffs on Saturday at home.
Freshman defender Scott Clark's incredible goal midway through the second overtime turned out to be the difference in a 2-1 Laser win over Victor Valley.
It was Irvine Valley's third straight victory and kept the Lasers unbeaten in their last 15 matches.
Irvine Valley, which won the Orange Empire Conference and is the No. 4 seed in the playoffs, improved its record to 15-2-5 overall.
Victor Valley, out of the Foothill Conference and the No. 13 seed, ended its season at 11-8-2 overall.
Irvine Valley took the lead in the 15th minute after freshman forward Connor Elder was taken down in the box. Freshman forward Toby Waterman blasted the penalty kick to the lower left corner of the goal to give Irvine Valley a 1-0 lead. It was Waterman's team-leading 18th goal of the season.
Victor Valley answered in the 33rd minute. After a miscue by IVC in the back end, Victor Valley took advantage. Ariel Gomez found Yehudi Marin and he scored to make it a 1-1 game.
It remained tied through regulation, but both teams had chances in the second half.
Freshman midfielder Jose Rivera, freshman forward Joseph Ferguson and Elder each came close.
Elder hit the post with a free kick midway through the second half.
Victor Valley's best chance in the second half came on a break by Gomez. But he sent his shot wide right of the goal.
Both teams battled through the first overtime period, but with no great looks on goal.
But Clark found the back of the net on a wild play eight minutes into the second overtime and 114 minutes into the match.
On the left side, Clark kicked the ball toward goal from about 40 yards out. What originally looked like a dangerous ball into the box, kept sailing.
With the sun setting in his face, Victor Valley goalie Anthony Squire jumped to try and knock it away, but the high ball, hit his fingertips and fell into the goal.
Originally the referees weren't sure if the ball went in or fell to the side of the goal, but after a discussion they ruled it was indeed an Irvine Valley score.
The Lasers took a 2-1 lead. And the team's defense, which has been strong much of the season, held on the rest of the way.
Sophomore goalie Manuel Zamora made seven saves in goal for IVC. Squire had seven saves for Victor Valley.
Irvine Valley will face Cuyamaca in the second round on Tuesday at home at 2 p.m. Cuyamaca, the No. 5 seed, defeated San Diego City, 2-1, on Saturday.