The Ventura College women's water polo team continued to shine with two more victories Friday at the Battle at the Beach at Cerritos College. The Pirates defeated Golden West 17-8 in the first game of the day before beating Rio Hondo 20-8 in the nightcap. Anna Lowe scored eight goals in the two games while Megan Findlay netted seven. Lauren Mora found the inside of the cage six times on the day Friday for Ventura (17-4, 4-1), the No. 9-ranked team in the state.
Ventura 17, Golden West 8
The Pirates used a strong second quarter to pull away from the Rustlers for the second time in 15 days, after defeating GWC 11-5 on Oct. 8.
Mora and Lowe each scored twice in the first period as VC held a 4-3 edge at the quarter break.
Findlay sandwiched a pair of goals around a score by Kiran Shah and the Pirates opened up a 7-3 lead. After a Golden West goal, Mora scored twice and Fiona Watkins found the inside of the cage for a 10-4 halftime margin.
After GWC scored in the opening minute of the third quarter, VC poured it on with four straight scores to put the game away.
Mora finished with four goals, three assists, two drawn ejections and a pair of steals while Findlay also scored four times with two helpers and five drawn ejections. Shah had three scores two assists and two steals while Lowe and Watkins each scored twice. Katie Falls had eight saves in goal for Ventura.
Ventura 20, Rio Hondo 7
Ventura came back in the nightcap to rout the Roadrunners, 20-7.
After falling behind 1-0 and 2-1, VC received goals from Isabel Tenison and Lowe to take the lead for good. Watkins' score in the final seconds fo the first quarter made it 4-2 for Ventura.
The Pirates steadily pulled away from Rio Hondo during the second period, scoring the final three goals of the stanza for a 9-4 halftime lead.
Findlay scored three of Ventura's first four goals during a 6-0 stretch in the third, and Mora scored the final two for a 14-6 advantage with 2:38 left in the period.
Lowe led the offense with six goals and a pair of assists while Watkins, Findlay and Emmie Johnston each scored three times. Mora and Tenison each scored twice and Stephany Dijar netted one goal in the victory. Sierra Cameron, Natalia Rodriguez and Tenison each handed out three assists.
The Pirates move into the winners' bracket of the Battle at the Beach and have a chance to redeem a pair of their losses from earlier this season. They will open with Fullerton at 8:00 am before playing host Cerritos at 3:00 pm. VC lost to the Hornets 14-9 on Oct. 8 and they dropped a heartbreaking 16-15 double-overtime decision to the Falcons back on Sept. 9.