Ventura College men's water polo team split two games on the opening day of the Western State Conference Tournament at Los Angeles Valley College Thursday. Playing the first game at 10:00 am, the No. 4-seeded Pirates faced off with No. 5 Santa Monica, claiming a 13-8 win. The win set up a match-up with No. 1 Los Angeles Valley, who defeated the Pirates 23-3. Daniel Amorim netted seven goals on the day. While Trevor Edwards picked up four goals.
Ventura 13, Santa Monica College 8
VC (14-12, 2-4) needed a win to advance in the tournament and they came out with intensity. In the first half the Pirates netted nine goals to take a 9-2 advantage after one half of play. Amorim collected four first half goals, while Edwards added three with Nathan Sardoni and Keaton Hess each putting in single goals. Santa Monica battled back in the second half out scoring the Pirates 6-4, but it wasn't enough as Ventura picked up the win in the elimination game.
Amorim and Edwards each picked up one more goal, with Isaias Castanon and Chandler Cole adding a goal a piece. Sardoni and Amorim both had two assists in the VC victory, while Hess paced the defense with four steals tops amongst the Pirates 14 team steals.
J'son Ruiz had seven saves and two assists out of the Pirates net. Luis Galvez saw time in net, as well and picked up a steal. The win set up a later game versus the top-seeded Los Angeles Valley College Monarchs.
Ventura 3, Los Angeles Valley 23
Facing a stiff challenge against the Monarchs, who entered the game as the top seed in the draw, Ventura was never able to get in control of the game. Trailing 15-1 at the half the Pirates were able to slow the LAVC offense in the second half, but could only net two goals on offense. Amorim scored two goals in the game with two steals. Galvez collected four saves for the Pirates.
With the defeat the Pirates will play in the third place game on Saturday Nov. 7 at 11:00 am.