In the playoffs, the 8-9 game in a bracket is supposed to be close. The Ventura College women's water polo playoff game against Mt. San Antonio followed the script. The No. 8-seeded Mounties upended the No. 9 Pirates 13-12 with a last-minute goal in the Southern California Regionals Thursday in Long Beach. Kendal Santos, Gabrielle MacNeill and Kendall Ribbers all scored three goals in the balanced attack, and Ahna Davis turned back six Mt. SAC shots in goal, but the Pirates (15-11) were unable to advance to the next round.
The game was close throughout, with neither team holding more than a one goal lead until midway through the fourth quarter. After Mt. SAC grabbed a 1-0 lead early, Ribbers followed with a pair of scores to put the Pirates ahead by a goal with 2:03 remaining in the opening period. The Mounties responded by scoring again to make it 2-2 at the quarter break.
Mt. SAC grabbed another slim edge early in the second when Santos and Caitlyn Hilgenberg both found the inside of the cage to flip the advantage back to VC. The Mounties scored two straight to retake he lead, and goals by MacNeill and Ribbers knotted the count at 5-5 and 6-6, respectively. the teams were tied headed into halftime.
The Pirates and Mounties continued to trade scores in the third quarter as Daphne Neilan tied the score at 7-7 at the 6:17 mark, and MacNeill hit an equalizer for an 8-8 count midway through the stanza. Santos then sandwiched a pair of goals around a Mt. SAC score and the Pirates held a 10-9 edge headed to the final eight minutes of play.
The Mounties rallied at the beginning of the fourth, scoring three goals in the first four minutes to hold the largest lead of the contest, 12-10. Hilgenberg halved the deficit with a goal at the 2:24 mark, and MacNeill tied the game at 12-12 with 47 seconds remaining. Mt. SAC was able to score following a timeout, however, and VC was unable to score on their last possession, ending the Pirates' run.
Santos also handed out three assists in the game while Ribbers dropped a pair of dimes. Santos recorded four steals and Ribbers had four drawn ejections to lead the Pirates.
"It was an exciting game, great effort and a good way to finish," said VC head coach Linda Wright. "This team has laid the groundwork for next season."