Pirate Men Celebrate Día de los Muertos with Two Wins

The Pirates' men's water polo team left the Día de los Muertos Tournament in Chula Vista with a pair of wins Saturday, defeating San Digeo Miramar 18-4 before outlasting San Diego Mesa 12-10 in the finale. Owen Patterson again led VC (12-11, 2-2) with seven goals on the day while Evan Augusta and Brayden Black each netted five in the two games. Ethan Ortiz totaled eight saves in the cage.

Ventura 18, San Diego Miaramar 4

The Jets got off to a quick start against the Pirates, scoring the first two goals of the game and leading the Pirates 4-3 with 1:25 remaining in the first quarter. Augusta scored to tie the game at the 1:17 mark and Thomas Shea hit the go-ahead goal on the next possession before Patterson closed the period with another score.

Shea, Boaz Biglin and Augusta all scored in the first three minutes of the second quarter and the rout was on. Biglin, Brennan Font, Luigi Travi and Fabian Moreno all scored before halftime for the 13-4 Ventura margin.

VC continued the domination in the second half as they cruised to the 18-4 win. Augusta and Patterson each scored three times in the balanced attack while Shea, Biglin and Black all netted two goals. Stephen McNaughten backed up the defensive effort with four saves in the cage.

Ventura 12, San Diego Mesa 10

Black scored the first goal of the game but he Olympians answered quickly, eventually holding a 5-3 edge at the end of the first quarter. Black and Augusta contributed goals to keep the Pirates close.

The two opponents traded goals in the second period as Patterson and Michael Soho found the inside of the cage for the 7-5 halftime deficit.

Mesa scored early in the third, moving ahead 8-5 before scores by Patterson and Samuel Abarca closed the gap to 8-7 at the end of the stanza.

Augusta came alive with two goals in the opening minute of the final period to give VC the lead, and Black followed with another goal for a 10-8 advantage with 6:24 remaining. After an Olympian goal, Biglin scored, and Black's goal with 2:22 left sealed the 12-10 victory.

Patterson ended with four goals and two steals and Augusta picked up the two key late goals. Black also scored three times with a pair of thefts. Ethan Ortiz turned back five Mesa shots in goal.

The Pirates will continue play this coming week in the Western State Conference Tournament at the Ventura Aquatic Center.