The VC men's water polo team's string of October success ran out in November as the Pirates dropped their final two games of the season in the Western State Conference Tournament at Los Angeles Valley Friday and Saturday. Ventura, the no. 4-seed in the draw, fell to No. 1 Cuesta in the semifinals before dropping a decision to No. 3 Citrus in the third-place game. Owen Cugnoni had five goals and three drawn exclusions over the weekend while Scott Wagner scored twice with three assists, two drawn exclusions and three steals.
Ventura 4, Cuesta 24
The Pirates had their hands full in the semifinals against the state No. 7-ranked Cougars. Cuesta want ahead early and never looked back as VC dropped the contest 24-4.
Ryan Webb scored twice for Ventura and Michael Soho had a goal with two steals and a drawn exclusion. S. Wagner also scored with an assist, a steal and one drawn exclusion. Thomas Vels recorded three steals in the game and Cugnoni had a pair of drawn exclusions.Stephen McNaughten turned back five Cuesta shots in goal and Shawn Coyner had three saves.
Ventura 8, Citrus 15
After falling behind 5-2 after the first period, the Pirates held fast, playing even with the third-seeded Owls. Citrus pulled away in the final stanza, however, to claim third place in the conference while VC finished in fourth.
Cugnoni ended a spectacular freshman campaign with five goals with a drawn exclusion and a steal and Soho added a goal withe three dimes, two drawn exclusions and a theft. S. Wagner also contributed a score with a pair of helpers, two steals and a drawn exclusion. Vels grabbed four steals defensively and Webb recorded a pair of thefts. Coyner had four saves in the cage.
Ventura ends the season with an 11-14 record, an 11-win improvement over the 0-17 season a year ago. The win total is the best at VC since the 2019 team also won 11 games. Although the goals were set higher for the team this season, progress was still made as they look forward to a return to the upper echelon of the Western State Conference in 2024.