The VC men's water polo team dropped a pair of contests Friday at the Día de los Muertos Tournament at Southwestern College in Chula Vista. VC fell to Palomar 13-9 in the opener before dropping a 22-13 decision against Grossmont in the nightcap. Owen Patterson scored 11 goals on the day and Evan Augusta added five scores for Ventura (10-11, 2-2).
Ventura 9, Palomar 13
The Pirates dropped the close decision against the Comets in the opener.
Patterson had a pair of goals in the first quarter to give VC leads of 1-0 and 2-1, respectively. Palomar scored two unanswered to close the period, however, and they led 3-2 at the quarter break.
The Comets continued their run with four goals to begin the second period before Boaz Biglin scored at the 2:59 mark to end the skid. Patterson answered a Comet score in the final minute of the stanza for an 8-4 VC deficit at halftime.
The Comets outscored the Pirates 2-1 in the third quarter and opened up an 11-6 lead with 2:59 remaining in the game, Biglin, Patterson and Augusta all scored down the stretch to keep Ventura close.
Stephen McNaughten totaled five saves in the cage against the Comets.
Ventura 13, Grossmont, 22
The Pirates put up a good fight in a fast-paced first quarter.Aafter the Griffins opened up a 3-0 lead in the first 1:20 of play, Patterson got VC rolling with a goal on the next possession. After three more goals by Grossmont, Patterson netted a pair of scores, and Augusta's goal in the final seconds pulled Ventura to within 7-4 at the end of the period.
Patterson scored three more times in the second quarter, and goals by Wyatt Dingman and Augusta made it 14-9 at intermission.
Ventura maintained the deficit after halftime before the Griffins pulled away in the final period.
VC will close their trip to Chula Vista playing against Southwestern College on Saturday Nov. 2. The begin the Western State Conference Tournament at the Ventura Aquatic Center on Friday Nov. 8.