In a match up of unbeaten teams, a slow first half sent the Ventura College women's water polo team to its first defeat of the season, 13-6 against visiting Santa Barbara at the Ventura Aquatic Center. The Pirates (4-1, 0-1) were down 9-0 before getting on the board in the final minute of the second quarter, and playing even from that point on. Paige Treloar-Ballard had a pair of scores and four steals to lead VC.
Santa Barbara drew first blood in the match with a goal at the 6:42 mark of the opening period. They scored twice more in the quarter to lead 3-0 after one.
The Vaqueros continued to score while VC could not get untracked offensively, ultimately holding a 9-0 edge with a minute remaining in the half. Ventura got on the board when Samantha Ontiveros converted a rebound into a score from the left side at the 48-second mark of the second quarter. Treloar-Ballard hit Sabrina Cherfane with a pass on a breakaway on the next possession for a score and the Pirates trailed 9-2 at halftime.
The teams played even in the final half, with Maeve Flynn scoring an unassisted goal, and assisting a Treloar-Ballard score in the third period.
Treloar-Ballard netted a goal unassisted in the fourth while Ylva Ostlin scored with an assist by Nicole Garcia.
The Vaqueros outshot the Pirates 25-18 in the match, and the Pirates managed 10 steals compared to 21 turnovers.
Ventura returns to the pool on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 16 and 17 at the Riverside Tournament. They travel to Los Angeles Pierce on Wednesday Sept. 21 before hosting the VC Alumnae and a UC Santa Barbara Club team at the Ventura Aquatic Center on Saturday Sept. 24, beginning at 11:00 am.