The VC women's water polo team split a pair of games Friday at the Orange Coast Tournament in Costa Mesa. The Pirates (2-1) outmatched Southwestern before a slow start cost them in their 14-8 setback against Saddleback in the second game. Kelsee Espitia, Gabrielle MacNeill and Ella Montano all scored four goals on the day while Ahna Davis had eight saves in the cage for Ventura.
Ventura 17, Southwestern 2
MacNeill scored two of VC's first three goals and Montano scored twice in the opening period as the Pirates led the Jaguars 6-1 after eight minutes of play. Kelsee scored twice in the second quarter helping Ventura to an insurmountable 10-1 advantage at intermission.
Montano finished with four scores and four assists in the game while Espitia had three goals, three assists and a drawn ejection. Emily Baughn scored twice with an assist, three drawn ejections and a pair of steals and Milla Malesich recorded two goals with a pair of helpers. Paige LeBaron had three saves in the cage against SWC.
Ventura 8, Saddleback 14
The Pirates got off to a slow start against the Bobcats as Saddleback scored four unanswered goals following the VC's opening score by MacNeill. Ventura pulled to within two goals on three different occasions in the second quarter on scores by Kendal Santos, Baughn and Espitia, respectively. The Pirates trailed 8-5 at halftime.
Kendall Ribbers found the inside of the cage to pull Ventura to within 8-6 before Saddleback went on another four-goal run to pull away.
MacNeill led the balanced VC attack with a pair of goals and Espitia had a score with two assists. Santos finished with a goal, an assist, four drawn ejections and two thefts in the game while Baughn scores once with a helper, one drawn ejection and four steals on defense. Davis had seven saves and four steals in the cage for Ventura.
Ventura finished the Orange Coast Tournament on Saturday Sept. 9 against Fullerton and OCC.