Women's Polo Splits Pair at Beach, Earns 100th Win for Wright

The Pirates' women's water polo team split a pair of games Friday at the Battle at the Beach Tournament in Long Beach, falling to No. 7-ranked Orange Coast before defeating Grossmont. Ella Montano and AnnMarie Patterson each scored five goals on the day and Kelsee Espitia netted four scores for Ventura (14-9, 3-1). The victory against the Griffins was the 100th career win for VC head coach Linda Wright in her seventh year directing the program.

Ventura 5, Orange Coast 9

The Pirates of the North, ranked No. 10 in the state, fell to the Pirates of the South in the tournament opener. Espitia had a pair of goals and seven steals in the game and Patterson netted two scores with three drawn exclusions. Montano also scored a goal with three steals.

VC fell behind 3-0 in the first quarter of play and 5-2 at halftime with scores by Espitia and Patterson. Espitia scored again in the third period, but OCC found the inside of the cage twice, leading 7-3 entering the final stanza.

Ava Carey recorded 11 saves in the cage for Ventura with three steals and Stevie Sturges had one assist and three thefts.

Ventura 13, Grossmont 9

VC, ranked No. 10 in the state, rebounded with a 13-9 triumph over the Griffins. Montano scored four times with three steals and four drawn exclusions and Patterson and Milla Malesich each netted three goals. Espitia scored twice while dropping four dimes with three steals and two drawn exclusions.

Malesich scored early for the Pirates before Grossmont closed the opening period with a pair of goals for a 2-1 lead.

VC scored four of the next five goals, however, with Malesich sandwiching two gaols around scored by Patterson and Espitia. The Griffins answered with a pair of goals for a 5-5 score at intermission.

Following a Grossmont score to open the second half, VC scored four unanswered goals to open a 9-6 edge with 1:35 remaining in the third period. Mikela De Aguiar goal at the 4:12 mark of the final quarter made it 12-7 for Ventura, as they cruised in for the 13-9 win.

The victory was the 100th career win for Wright as head coach of the Pirates. Her career record currently stands at 100-64 overall in five-plus seasons mentoring the team.

The Pirates will take on Merced at 10:20 am in Long Beach before playing the tournament finale later in the day on Saturday Oct. 26.