Playing without their starting and back-up goal keepers, the Ventura College women's water polo team dropped it's first Western State Conference match Wednesday, 13-8 at Cuesta College. Reginae Maturino, Christina Tellez and Danielle Pfeifer led the Pirates (10-7, 3-1) with two goals each.
VC got off to a rocky start, falling behind 7-3 in the opening quarter. They settled in after that, but the damage had been done against the Cougars, who came into the match tied with Ventura atop the Western State Conference standings. Cuesta led 9-4 at halftime and 11-5 after three quarters before taking the match 13-8.
Tellez scored two goals with two assists and a pair of drawn ejections and Maturino netted a pair of scores with one assist. Pfeifer had two goals with a steal and a drawn ejection.
Anjali Paramanandam, normally a utility player, filled in at goalie and settled in following a rough first quarter. She had eight saves in the match, including seven in the final three periods.
Brittany McWaid scored once and pulled in three steals while Melissa Robles also scored a goal with two steals. Cecily Loya handed out a pair of assists and recorded five steals and drew one 5m foul. Raquel Rodriguez had two steals and an assist and Cheyanne Irigoyen also had an assist.
The Pirates continue WSC play at home on Tuesday Oct. 21. They will host Santa Barbara at the Ventura Aquatic Center at 2:15 pm.