Pirate attacker Daphne Neilan scored four times and Kendal Santos scored a goal with 2:03 remaining in the game to help the Pirates' women's water polo team to an 8-7 victory over Cuesta in the semifinals of the Western State Conference Tournament in San Luis Obispo Friday. Ahna Davis had 10 saves, including two in the final 20 seconds for VC (15-9, 4-2) as the Pirates advanced to the conference title game for the second season in a row and the fourth time in the past six campaigns.
It was a defensive battle early as neither team was able to find the inside of the goal until late in the first period. Neilan broke the ice for Ventura, who entered the draw as the No. 2-seed despite a three-way tie for second in the regular season with Cuesta and Citrus, scoring an unassisted goal with 1:36 remaining in the period.
Neilan scored again early in the second off an assist by Emily Baughn before the Cougars got on the board on the next possession. Kendall Ribbers and Gabrielle MacNeill scored consecutive goals midway through the stanza to give Ventura a 4-1 edge at halftime.
Cuesta opened the scoring early in the third quarter, but Neilan restored the three-goal advantage with a successful shot a minute later. With 4:41 remaining in the period, Neilan found the inside of the cage once again to extend the lead to 6-2, and Santos answered a late Cuesta goal with her own score to make it 7-3 entering the fourth quarter.
Cuesta made a massive comeback in the final period, They scored four unanswered goals over the first six minutes of the quarter, tying the score at seven with 2:18 remaining. Santos hit the game-winner on the next possession with an assist from Ribbers, and the Pirate defense made the slight margin hold for the final two minutes of play. in the final 20 seconds, Davis turned back a pair of Cuesta shots, grabbing the rebound on the latter, to secure the victory.
MacNeill and Ribbers each had two assist in the game while Baughn, Neilan, and Caitlyn Hilgenberg dropped a dime each. Neilan and Santos also led the defensive effort with five steals apiece.
Ventura advances to the conference championship game on Saturday Nov. 5 at 1:30 pm in San Luis Obispo against No. 1-seed Santa Barbara.