It just wasn't their day. Missing a key starter, the VC women's water polo team had a difficult time getting anything going, falling in the Western State Conference title game 15-6 to Santa Barbara. Lauren Mora led the No. 7-ranked Pirates (19-6, 5-2) with four goals and three drawn ejections while Fiona Watkins had a score with three assists and four steals against the No. 2-ranked Vaqueros.
It was a difficult day from the start as SBCC built a 3-0 lead before Mora scored the Pirates' first goal with 3:50 remaining in the first period. After two more scores from the Vaqueros, Mora scored twice in the final minute of the quarter to bring Ventura to within 5-3 at the quarter break.
Santa Barbara then took control of the game with a 4-0 second quarter to hold a commanding 9-3 advantage at halftime.
Mora found the inside of the cage on the Pirates' first possession of the second half, but the outcome had been determined. Watkins scored at the end of the third quarter, and Isabel Tenison netted a goal to begin the fourth for the 15-6 final margin.
Natalia Rodriguez handed out a pair of assists with a drawn ejection and Anna Lowe also dished out a helper in the game. Katie Falls had seven saves in the cage for VC.
With their runner-up finish in the conference in tow, the Pirates await their seeding in the Southern California Regional Playoffs set to begin Thursday Nov. 11 at Southwestern College in Chula Vista.