The VC women's water polo team claimed a pair of wins Saturday to finish the Ventura Tournament. The Pirates held off Modesto 13-9 in their first game of the day before running away from Pasadena, 24-3. Kelsee Espitia had a banner day with 12 goals, two assists and two steals to lead the way and AnnMarie Patterson scored four goals in the two games.Ava Carey turned back 12 shots in the cage for Ventura (12-7, 2-0).
Ventura 13, Modesto 9
VC raced out to a big lead early against the Pirates of the Central Valley before holding them off in the fourth quarter for the victory.
Patterson and Caitlyn Hilgenberg scored in the opening minutes of the game before Espitia scored twice for a 4-0 lead midway through the first quarter. Ella Montano answered a Modesto score and Ventura led 5-1 after eight minutes of play.
Montano scored again early in the second period before Espitia netted four straight goals for a 10-2 Pirate advantage with 4:16 remaining in the first half. Modesto found the inside of the cage one more time before intermission to make it 10-3 at halftime.
VC's offense went cold in the third quarter as Modesto began their comeback. They scored five unanswered goals in the period to close to within 10-8 heading into the final stanza.
Espitia broke the Pirate skid with a goal with 6:16 remaining in the game. Hilgenberg answered a Modesto score by finding the back of the cage at the 3:47 mark to make it 12-9. Espitia then put the game on ice with a score with 2:56 on the clock to set the final margin.
Espitia scored eight goals in the game to go along with a pair of assists with a steal and a drawn exclusion. Montano had two goals with four steals and two drawn exclusions and Hilgenberg also scored twice. Patterson dished out a pair of assists with two steals and two drawn exclusions. Mikela De Aguiar grabbed three steals in the game.
Ventura 24, Pasadena 3
The Pirates completely overmatched the Lancers in the tournament finale, opening up an 11-0 lead early in the second quarter. Espitia scored four straight goals early in the game and six other Pirates combined for the other seven goals in racing to the big lead. Ventura led 16-1 at halftime.
VC cruised in the second half. Six different players netted the Pirates' eight goals after intermission in the 24-3 blow out.
Espitia's four goals led Ventura while Patterson and Devin Varela scored three times each with Patterson recording three assists and two steals, as well.. Hilgenberg, Stevie Sturges, Kayla Foster,Sarah Glassman and Bella Palacios each recorded two goals each. De Aguiar handed out four assists while Sturges and Glassman each added three dimes.
VC takes to the pool again on Wednesday Oct. 16 at Los Angeles Valley.