Men's Water Polo Opens Season at West Valley Tourney

The VC men's water polo team dropped a pair of close games Friday to open their 2024 campaign at the Nyquist Invitational at West Valley College in Saratoga. The Pirates fell to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo 11-9 before dropping a 12-10 decision to Modesto in the nightcap. Michael Soho totaled five goals with five steals on the day for the Pirates (0-2) while Boaz Biglin found the net four times.

Ventura 9, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo 11

In the opener, the Pirates gave up a pair of quick goals to the Mustangs before Soho got VC on the board at the 3:41 mark of the opening quarter. Soho answered another Cal Poly goal late in the period and the Pirates trailed 4-2 after eight minutes of play. 

Evan Augusta and Wyatt Dingman each scored early in the second to pull VC to within a single goal each time, but the Mustangs netted a pair of scores to extend the lead to 7-4. Samuel Abarca's score at the 1:17 mark of the quarter reduced Ventura's deficit to 7-5 at intermission.

Goals by Owen Patterson and Erik Schwartz pulled VC back even at 7-7 with 1:17 on the clock and Biglin answered another Cal Poly score late in the third to send the game to the final period knotted at 8-8.

The Mustangs scored three straight goals to begin the fourth quarter to put the game away.

Soho totaled a pair of goals with a steal, as did Biglin. Augusta handed out a pair of assists and Brayden Black grabbed four steals defensively. Stephen McNaughten had nine saves in goal while Ethan Ortiz turned back seven Mustang shots in the cage.

Ventura 10, Modesto 12

In the second game of the day, Ventura held a two-goal advantage in the first half and were tied early in the fourth quarter before falling to the Modesto Pirates. Augusta scored twice and Soho found the inside of the cage once in the first  period for a 3-2 VC lead. 

Augusta's score with 6:18 remaining in the first half extended the VC margin to 4-2 before Modesto tied the score with a pair of goals over the next five minutes of play. Biglin scored with 1:25 left in the quarter before Modesto tied the score at 5-5 by halftime.

VC played catch-up in the third quarter, answering goals by Modesto with Soho and Black recording equalizers. Biglin scored early in the fourth for a 9-9 tie before Modesto scored three unanswered goals to take the victory.

Soho had three scores and four thefts to lead Ventura while Augusta netted three goals with three steals. Biglin turned in another solid effort in the nightcap with two goals, two assists and a steal. Ortiz recorded five saves and McNaughten had four saves and four steals in goal.

Ventura continues play at West Valley College in Saratoga on Saturday Sept. 7 playing Merced and San Joaquin Delta.