Pirate Men Split Two at Miramar

The VC men's water polo split two more games Saturday at the San Diego Miramar Tournament, bringing their weekend mark to 2-2. The Pirates defeated the hosts 18-9 in the first match of the day before falling to Grossmont 21-15 in the nightcap. Owen Patterson led VC (3-5) with six goals, eight steals and five drawn exclusions and Erik Schwartz netted five scores with a pair of drawn exclusions. Thomas Shea scored four goals with a pair of steals.

Ventura 18, San Diego Miramar 9

The Pirates jumped all over the host Jets early, scoring the first eight goals of the game. Patterson scored twice in the first quarter, as did Schwartz. Shea, Michael Soho, Samuel Abarca and Brayden Black also added to the offensive barrage that lasted until early in the second period. Shea, Schwartz and Black all send the ball into the cage before halftime as Ventura led Miramar 11-3 at intermission.

After a VC score to begin the third period, the Jets scored three unanswered goals to close to within 12-6 at the 2:00 mark. Ventura again took control netting four scores before the end of the stanza for a 16-6 edge heading to the final eight minutes of play. The Pirates cruised through the final quarter for the 18-9 victory.

Schwartz led the way with four goals while Patterson scored three times with five steals defensively. She found the inside of the cage three times with a steal and a drawn exclusion while Black, Soho and Abarca each scored twice. Ethan Ortiz and Stephen McNaughten recorded five and four saves, respectively in goal.

Ventura 15, Grossmont 21

The Pirates ended the weekend with a competitive loss against the Griffins, who scored the first three goals of the game and held a 5-2 lead at the quarter break. Shea and Soho each scored midway through the period to pull VC to within 3-2 at the 3:36 mark.

Patterson opened the second stanza with a score for a 5-3 Pirate deficit, and he answered another Griffin goal for a 6-4 score. Evan Augusta and Boaz Biglin each scored to keep Ventura within an 8-6 margin and Soho found the inside of the cage to keep the Pirates at 9-7.  Grossmont scored one more time before the break for a 10-7 halftime edge.

Ventura continued to generate offensive opportunities, scoring four goals in the third quarter, but the Griffins outpaced the Pirates with six scores. Grossmont maintained their advantage through the final period for the 21-15 decision.

Patterson again had a solid performance for VC with three goals, three steals and five drawn exclusions while Soho and Wyatt Dingman each scored twice. Soho also added three steals to his performance and McNaughten had nine saves in the cage.

VC next travels to Crafton Hills College on Wednesday Sept. 18.