The restoration is complete.

The Ventura County Fusion men's soccer team has shoehorned itself back in the playoff race with three straight home wins against previously unbeaten opposition.

Substitute Julian Alvarez swept in a loose ball with 12 minutes to play as the Fusion gritted its teeth to send the Los Angeles Legends to their first defeat of the season, 1-0, Saturday night at Buena High.

"It's a very good result," said coach Graham Smith. "There's no doubt about it, the boys are believing in themselves."

With 11 points, the Fusion (3-2-2) moved into a third-place tie with the Legends (3-1-2) and San Jose (3-1-2). It swept the first-place duo of Fresno and San Francisco at home last weekend.

The Fusion's second Premier Development League season was revitalized against the team that ended its inaugural campaign. The last time the Legends came to Ventura, they were known as the Storm. The 0-0 draw on the final day of the season last July left the Fusion out of the playoffs.

"It feels great to get a win against the team that kept us out of playoffs," said goalkeeper Logan Frank. "But it's more important to have our third straight shutout."

Frank became the first Fusion goalkeeper to record three straight shutouts. He saved the victory in the 80th minute by diving left to punch Kevin Gallaugher's screened shot.

"I didn't pick it up at first," said Frank. "But it was in my frame. You make the saves you have to."

Striker Artur Aghasyan started for the third straight match and continued to work hard to get himself in good positions. He wriggled free of the defense for two good chances in the first half.

"Artur is showing what hard work can do," said Smith. "His movement up front has been fantastic."

Winger Brian Byrne, who scored the winner in the 1-0 victory over San Francisco, was perhaps the Fusion's best player for the second straight match, creating the chance from which Alvarez carved out the winning goal.

Alvarez, who will be a senior in the fall at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, was also anonymous little more than a week ago.

"They may have been three unknowns," said Frank of Aghasyan, Byrne and Alvarez, "but they're three guys who are playing big minutes and doing big things for us now."

In the 78th minute, Byrne worked hard to get down down the right touchline. He couldn't get a shot off, but he found midfielder Rodrigo Lopez at the top of the penalty area.

Lopez went sprawling in a tussle with a defender, but not before touching the ball forward for Alvarez to finish.

"They both made great plays," said Alvarez of his teammates. "I just saw the opportunity and took it."

The Legends dominated much of the second half with their size, ball-winning ability and the speed of Notre Dame midfielder Ian Etherington.

Their best chance came off the head of a defender and fell nicely for Bryan Fakkema, who moved into the Fusion area untested and drove the ball clean off Frank's crossbar.