McGrogan gets 250th win as IVC beats the Chargers
The Irvine Valley College men’s soccer team beat Cypress College Friday afternoon at IVC, winning coach Martin McGrogan his 250th victory at the school. The Lasers scored three goals in the second half, making the final score 3-1.
McGrogan, who is in his 19th-year of coaching the Lasers team, now has a record of 250-111-64. He has won two state titles, (in 1993 and 2003.)
He has had a winning record in all but one of his 19 seasons.
“This is really an occasion to think of all of the players that have represented us throughout the years and all the great coaches that have helped be a part of this,” McGrogan said. “That being said, I would give all 250 wins away to win the next eight or nine games this season and get another state championship.”
The Lasers’ victory on Friday made their record for the season to 7-6-2 and 5-3-0 for the Orange Empire Conference.
This brought them within close distance of first-place.
Before Friday’s game they had trailed Santiago Canyon and Fullerton by two points for first-place.
IVC had plenty of chances to score throughout the game. In the first half, although they out-shot Cypress, 10-3, the Lasers did not deliver on any shots. At half-time Cypress led, 1-0, thanks to a successful penalty kick by Ernesto Escobedo. He made the shot after IVC was called for a hand ball in the box in the 21st minute.
The second half was a total turn around for the Lasers, as they scored almost immediately.
With two minutes on the clock sophomore defender Troy Chavez trapped a loose ball and knocked it into the box where freshman mid fielder Tony Ramos was there to kick it into the net. Less than two minutes later, the Lasers struck again.
Freshman midfielder Brice Adams dribbled the ball down the right sideline and passed it to freshman Reza Nourani inside the box. Nourani got a hold on the ball and then sent a shot over the Cypress goalie’s head.
Then, in the 69th minute, IVC sophomore midfielder Roberto Linck scored the final goal.
Freshman Anthony Ramos sent the ball ahead to Linck.
Linck out-ran the Cypress defense, and made it past the goalie with some moves. Then he shot the ball into the empty net. “We finished our chances in the second half and that was the difference,” McGrogan said. “When we play well this is a very, good team.”
The Lasers play at Orange Coast College on Friday. Game time is set for 1 p.m.