MEN'S WATER POLO: Reaching the WSC final for the first time since 2009, the Ventura College men's water polo team placed second at the Western State Conference Tournament at Santa Monica College on Friday and Saturday. The No. 2-seeded Pirates defeated No. 3 Los Angeles Valley 10-6 on Friday before falling to No. 1 Cuesta 10-7 on Saturday. Tim Allen and Tyler Remnant each scored four goals and Hunter Shevitt scored three in the two matches while Sean McGee recorded 17 saves in goal for the Pirates (14-14).
Ventura 10, Los Angeles Valley 6, Friday 11-8
In the semifinal, the Pirates took control midway through the second quarter, turning a 3-3 tie into a 7-4 halftime lead. VC scored seven of the match's final 10 goals. Allen and Remnant each scored three goals while Rogelio Coronado, David Beauvais, Nick Miranda and Rodrigo Siracusa also scored goals for VC. McGee had 11 saves and four steals in the victory.
Ventura 7, Cuesta 10, Saturday 11-9
The Pirates qualified for the final for the first time in four years, but were unable to defeat the top-seeded Cougars. The Pirates jumped out to an early 3-2 lead, but Cuesta scored six unanswered goals to take an 8-3 lead into halftime. Ventura pulled to within 8-5 late in the third quarter but could get no closer, dropping the 10-7 decision. Shevitt scored three goals while Joe Yamamoto netted two scored for VC. Remnant and Allen also scored one goal each and McGee turned back six Cougar shots in the cage.
The Pirates will now await the results of the regional seeding meeting to determine if they will qualify for the Southern California Regional Playoffs beginning Thursday Nov. 14 in Cerritos.