The VC women's water polo team got back on track Wednesday with an easy 18-2 victory over Santa Monica at the Ventura Aquatic Center. AnnMarie Patterson scored four goals to lead the balanced attack for VC (18-9, 3-2) while Gabrielle MacNeill netted three scores. Devin Varela handed out four assists and Kendal Santos grabbed four steals defensively. With the win, Ventura clinched the No. 3 seed in next week's Western State Conference Tournament.
The game was a runaway from the start. MacNeill sandwiched a pair of goals around a score by Santos in the opening two minutes of play before Patterson and Ella Montano each scored two goals before the expiration of the opening period. Ventura led 10-2 after eight minutes of play.
Paige LeBaron scored a goal from the field to start the second period, and Emily Baughn also contributed a pair of scores for the 13-2 margin at halftime.
Kelsee Espitia, Baughn and Montano each scored twice in the game while Izabel Magana, Santos and JoJo Thayne also added goals. Santos, MacNeill, Montano and Jessica Garcia all handed out two assists each. Defensively, LeBaron had seven saves in the cage over three quarters of play. Garcia and Milla Malesich each grabbed three steals and Kendall Ribbers, added two thefts.
Ventura will likely hold the No. 3 see3d heading into next week's WSC Tournament and host a play-in game on Wednesday Nov. 1 at the Ventura Aquatic Center.