It was not the opening that first-year head coach Jorge Perez was hoping for, but the Pirates' men's water polo team showed signs of improvement in four games at the difficult Golden West Tournament in Huntington Beach. VC (0-4) dropped contests to Long Beach and Saddleback Friday before falling to American River and Rio Hondo Saturday. Tanner Islander and Austin Brunk each netted eight goals over the weekend to lead Ventura.
Ventura 4, Long Beach 20
The Pirates opened the 2018 season with a rough loss to Long Beach City College. Brunk had two goals, three steals and a pair of assists while Islander scored once with a steal. Zander Galvin also scored for Ventura.
Ventura 9, Saddleback 14
Islander had three goals and a steal to lead the Pirates and Brunk scored twice with two steals and an assist. Galvin also netted a pair of scores in Friday's nightcap while Frank Lopez and Brandon Bence each had a goal with two steals.
Ventura 11, American River 16
Ventura showed improvement on day two of the tournament despite the setback to the Beavers. Brunk and Galvin each scored three goals to led the way and Islander scored twice.
Ventura 7, Rio Hondo 12
Islander found the back of the net two times and Joesph MacDonald scored two goals. Brunk Dru Coronado and Riley Doucette also recorded one goal each.
VC heads back to the pool on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 14 and 15 at the 45th Annual Mt. SAC Tournament in Walnut.