Ventura Easily Advances in WSC Tourney

The Pirates' men's water polo team easily advanced past the quarterfinal round of the Western State Conference Tournament Wednesday with a 23-9 win over Santa Monica at Rio Mesa High School. Owen Cugnoni was on fire with nine goals, three drawn exclusions and two steals and Michael Soho added four scores with two assists. Goalie Stephen McNaughten had seven saves in the cage to anchor the VC defense.

After the Corsairs netted the opening goal, the Pirates (11-12, 2-3) strung together five unanswered scores to take control of the game early. Soho found the net twice to give Ventura the lead for good before Cugnoni stretched the lead. Thomas Vels and Ryan Webb finished the run for the 5-1 Pirate margin after the first quarter.

Santa Monica managed to stay close in the second period and VC led 9-5 at halftime.

Ventura broke out with eight goals in the third stanza, led by two each by Soho, Cugnoni and Kyle Wagner before Cugnoni scored three in the fourth to go along with Cameron Habib's two goals in the final period.

The Pirates shared the ball well with Scott Wagner, Webb, K. Wagner and Matthew Ogonowski all handing out three assists. Sebastian Cornejo led the defense with four steals.

Ventura, the No. 4 seed in the draw, advances in the WSC Tournament to play No. 1 Cuesta on Friday Nov. 3. The first sprint is scheduled for 10:00 am at Los Angeles Valley