The VC women's water polo team split a pair of games Saturday afternoon in their Western State Conference Mini Tournament at the Ventura Aquatic Center. The Pirates (11-8, 1-3) dropped a heartbreaker to Cuesta 8-7 in the opener before blasting Los Angeles Pierce 18-1 in the nightcap. Raylynn Lipsky, Drew Reyes and Abby Coker all netted three goals in the two contests and Shayle Barrus totaled 16 saves in goal in five quarters of play.
Ventura 7, Cuesta 8
After yielding the first score, VC came back with four straight goals, by Lauren Mora, Shaeleigh Russell and two by Lipsky, to take a 4-1 lead over the visiting Cougars at halftime. Lipsky assisted a goal by Cali Iadevaia at the 2:14 mark of the third period for a 7-3 Ventura advantage before Cuesta began a comeback. The Cougars netted the final five scores of the game to complete their comeback and defeat the Pirates. Lipsky finished with two goals, two assists and six steals while Iadevaia had a score, three helpers and four drawn ejections. Russell had three steals and a goal while Reyes grabbed two thefts with a score. Coker added one goal, one steal and one drawn ejection. Barrus was solid once again in the cage, recording 14 saves and three steals to anchor the VC defense.
Ventura 18, LA Pierce 1
The nightcap was almost over before it started. Alani Mercado scored less than two minutes into the game, the first of six VC goals in the opening period. The Pirate lead stretched to 12-0 by halftime, and Ventura led 18-0 late in the game. Masiel Martinez scored four goals on the day with five steals while Reyes, Coker and Ary Martinez also added two goals each. Eight other Pirates scored in the game and Phoebe Murtishaw had eight saves in goal.
Ventura plays its final home game of the season on Wednesday Oct. 23 against Santa Monica College. The contest begins at 2:00 pm at the Ventura Aquatic Center.