VC Splits Pair at West Valley Tournament

The Pirates' women's water polo team split a pair of games Friday at the West Valley Tournament in Saratoga, defeating Merced 17-15 in a overtime thriller before falling to the hosts and defending state champions 14-6 in the nightcap. Daphne Neilan scored five goals on the day with seven drawn exclusions and five steals to help lead Ventura (3-2).

Ventura 17, Merced 15 (OT)

In the opener, Ventura and Merced engaged in an epic battle. The teams traded goals in a 3-3 first period before a pair of goals from Kendal Santos opened up a 6-4 advantage in the second for VC. Merced scored the final two goals of the half, however, and the game was knotted at 6-6 at intermission.

After halftime, the Blue Devils opened a three-goal lead with three unanswered scored to close the third quarter with a 10-7 margin.

In the fourth, Caitlyn Hilgenberg, Gabrielle MacNeill and Neilan all scored to bring the Pirates back to a 10-10 tie at the 4:50 mark. After a Merced goal, Neilan scored again, and Emily Baughn gave VC a 12-11 advantage. Merced found a way to tie the score at 12-12 in the final few seconds of regulation to send the game to overtime.

Kendall Ribbers and Gabrielle Mendoza each scored in the first overtime period for the Pirates, but the Blue Devils were able to come back to tie once again at 15-15 with 1:17 remaining on the clock. Hilgenberg and Santos followed with goals on the next two possessions to push the Pirates to victory.

Baughn and Ribbers led the offense with four goals each while Neilan scored three times with four assists, five drawn exclusions and three steals. Hilgenberg netted a pair of scores with two assists and four drawn exclusions. Ahna Davis spent the second and fourth quarters along with the extra time in the cage, recording seven saves and six steals.

Ventura 6, West Valley 14

The Pirates ran into a buzzsaw in the nightcap, falling to West Valley, the 2022 state champions, 17-6. VC found the going difficult in the first half as they fell behind the Vikings 12-1 by halftime. Ventura managed to find some success in the second half but the damage had been done. 

Neilan scored a pair of goals in the game  with two drawn exclusions and two steals while Shella Norman, Jessica Garcia, MacNeill and Chantal Coronado also found the cage for the Pirates. Kiana Casey and Davis each recorded five saves in goal for Ventura.

The Pirates continue play in Saratoga on Saturday Sept. 17 against Modesto and Foothill.