Ventura Takes Two at Battle of the Beach

Pirate attacker Kendal Santos scored five goals on Saturday with two assists and four steals in a pair of Ventura victories at the Battle of the Beach in Cerritos.
Pirate attacker Kendal Santos scored five goals on Saturday with two assists and four steals in a pair of Ventura victories at the Battle of the Beach in Cerritos.

The VC women's water polo team won a pair of games against Western State Conference foes on the second day of the Battle of the Beach Tournament on Saturday. Playing at Cerritos College, the Pirates defeated Los Angeles Valley 8-4 in the morning before besting Cuesta 14-6 in the afternoon game. Goalie Ahna Davis was on fire with 31 saves in the two games while Kendal Santos netted five goals with a pair of assists and four steals. Daphne Neilan scored four times with two helpers and nine thefts.

Ventura 8, Los Angeles Valley 4

Kendall Ribbers opened the game with a pair of goals as Ventura led 2-0 at the end of the first quarter. Four different Pirates scored in teh second and Davis was solid in the cage shutting out the Monarchs before halftime. LA Valley did not get their first goal until the 2:11 mark of the third quarter as VC sailed in wit hthe easy win. 

Caitlyn Hilgenberg and Ribbers each recorded two goals and Neilan scored once with an assist and four steals defensively. Santos also found the inside of the cage once with a helper and a theft while Shella Norman also had one goal, one assist and one steal. Karina Parmisano also added a goal and a steal.  Davis turned back 19 LAVC shots in the cage.

Ventura 14, Cuesta 6

Ventura jumped all over the Cougars with the first three goals of the game scored by Neilan, Gabrielle MacNeill and Santos, respectively. Neilan also found the inside of the cage as VC led 4-2 after eight minutes of play. 

The Pirates then exploded for five straight scores in the second quarter taking complete control with a 9-2 advantage at halftime.

Santos scored twice in the key second stanza and had four goals in the game with an assist and three steals. Neilan contributed three scores and led the defense once again with five steals. seven different Pirates scored one goal each in the balanced attack and Davis had another stellar performance in goal with 12 saves.

The Pirates (11-8, 3-1) play their final regular season WSC game of the year on Wednesday Oct. 26 at Citrus College in Glendora.