The Ventura College men's water polo returned to action on Wednesday, dropping their Western State Conference opener 13-5 to visiting Citrus College at the Ventura Aquatic Center. Brandon Bence and Tanner Islander each scored two goals and Austin Brunk had a pair of assists to lead the Pirates (2-8). Evan Hanely had 12 saves in the cage.
Ventura took an early 1-0 lead on Islander's goal in the first period, but the Owls came back strong scoring five unanswered goals to finish the first quarter.
Jake Peters' score early in the second narrowed the gap for the Pirates, but Citrus proved to be too much on this day. Islander found the net lat in the period and Ventura trailed 8-3 at halftime.
The Pirates were held scoreless in the third before Bence scored twice in the final stanza to set the final score.
Zander Galvin, Joesph MacDonald and Riley Doucette all had assists for the Pirates while Brunk added four steals and a drawn exclusion to his game.
The Pirates next travel to the Cuesta Tournament in San Luis Obispo on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 12 and 13.