The Pirates' women's water polo team split pair of matches Saturday to conclude the Ventura Tournament at the Ventura Aquatic Center. VC (10-6, 0-1) easily defeated El Camino 11-2 in the first game of the day before falling 6-4 to No. 7-ranked Golden West in a hard fought match-up. Shayle Barrus was nails in the cage for No. 10 Ventura in the second game, turning back 14 Rustler shots to keep the Pirates in the game. Lauren Mora (7 steals), Drew Reyes (5 steals), Raylynn Lipsky (4 steals) and Shaeleigh Russell (3 steals) also anchored the defense against Golden West.
Ventura 11, El Camino 2
The Pirates had little trouble with the Warriors, scoring the first six goals of the match and holding a 7-1 lead at halftime. Cali Iadevaia scored two goals with an assist and 10 different players scored one gaol each in the game, and Barrus had five saves in the cage in two quarters of play. Lipsky had three steals, one assist and a goal in the victory and Russell pulled in two thefts and handed out two helpers. Ary Martinez and Delanie Lavacude-Klenck also recorded two steals each while Chloe Golden, Yaneli Calderon and Sierra Cameron each handed out an assist.
Ventura 4, Golden West 6
The defenses held the advantage in the nightcap as the battle of two top-10 teams remained low scoring. Abby Coker netted the Pirates' lone goal in the opening 16 minutes of play as VC trailed 4-1 at halftime. Golden, Reyes and Leanna Ramirez all scored in the third period as VC pulled to within 5-4 with 2:05 remaining in the quarter. Golden West responded with a goal on the next possession, and the teams were scoreless in the final stanza to keep the final score at 6-4. Barrus turned back 14 shots in the cage while Mora, Reyes, Lipsky and Russell also had outstanding defensive efforts.
VC continues Western State Conference play on Wednesday Oct. 16 at Citrus College in Glendora.