Youth Beats Experience as Women's Water Polo Defeats Alumnae

Sophomore Lauren Wiksell (left) had five goals, an assist, and seven steals in the Pirates victory over the VC Alumnae Saturday.
Sophomore Lauren Wiksell (left) had five goals, an assist, and seven steals in the Pirates victory over the VC Alumnae Saturday.

The young won out Saturday as the Ventura College women's water polo team defeated the VC Alumnae 16-15 Saturday at the Ventura Aquatic Center.  The current Pirates jumped out to an 8-0 lead 1:04 into the second quarter, and made it stand up, holding off the alums in the final period. Lauren Wiksell had an outstanding day with five goals, an assist and seven steals to lead Ventura (7-4, 1-1).

The Pirates blanked the alumnae 5-0 in the opening period behind three scores from Wiksell.  She scored two of the first three VC goals of the second period to make the score 8-0 with 6:56 remaining in the half.  The alumnae came back strong, however, closing the gap to 10-6 by halftime.

The teams traded scores in pairs in the third quarter, with the lead remaining four goals, 14-10 at period's end.  The alumnae closed to within one at the 4:57 mark of the fourth quarter with three unanswered scores before the teams traded goals for the remainder of the match.  The alumnae scored with less than a second left on the clock to set the final 16-15 margin.

Paige Treloar-Ballard had two gaols, three assists, a drawn ejection and a steal while Ylva Ostlin and Sabrina Cherfane also netted two scores each. Maeve Flynn had a goal with two assists.  VC split time with goalie duties with Valeria Ramirez recording five saves to lead the way.

The Pirates continue Western State Conference play on Wednesday Sept. 28 at Allan Hancock College before traveling to the San Diego Tournament Friday and Saturday Sept. 30 and Oct 1.

The Pirates and the VC Alumnae after Saturday's match at the Ventura Aquatic Center.