In a tight game that featured 10 ties and seven lead changes, the Pirates' men's water polo team outlasted Citrus 15-14 in double-overtime at the Ventura Aquatic Center Wednesday afternoon. Alexis Nava scored the game winner with an assist by Zane Herman with 2:42 remaining in the second extra period. Andre Galvez scored four goals with an assist and three drawn ejections and Jaeger Gonzales was key in goal, turning back 17 shots by the Owls.
After Citrus scored in the first minute, Andre created the first tie of the game with a goal at the 6:18 mark with an assist by Nava. The Owls tied the game two more times in the opening period with the score knotted at 3-3 at the quarter break.
The visitors took a one-goal lead twice early in the second period, only to see the Pirates equalize on scores by Galvez and Anthony Ibarra. Nava and Ibarra each found the cage to give Ventura a pair of one-score leads, but the Owls came back to lead at halftime, 8-7.
As the second half began, the play became more physical and the defenses took charge of the action. Andre finally score halfway through the third to tie the score at 9-9 before Nava and Janson Cunningham netted back-to-back scores to give the Pirates some breathing room, 10-8. An Owl goal was followed by another score from Andre and Ventura led 11-9 headed to the final period.
Brayden Lauritzen found the inside of the cage at the 5:36 mark of the fourth to give VC a seemingly-comfortable 12-9 advantage, but Citrus had other plans. The Owls scored four of the final five goals, the last one with 1:01 left in regulation, and the teams headed to overtime tied at 13.
In the first three-minute bonus period, Citrus took the advantage with 1:08 on the clock. On the next possession, Joseph Lowry turned an assist by Zane Herman into a goal, tying the score at 14, sending the game to another overtime.
In the second extra three minutes, Nava scored with 2:42 remaining to give Ventura the edge. Gonzales had some key saves down the stretch to help preserve the victory.
Ibarra netted three goals with two assists and a pair of steals in the game while Herman scored twice with six helpers on each of the Pirates' final six goals. Nava scored twice with four assists and Lauritzen scored a goal with three assists. Cunningham, Lowry and Benjamin Sweet also found the inside of the cage for Ventura.
The Pirates continue Western State Conference play on Wednesday Oct. 13 at Santa Monica College.