The VC men's water polo team split a pair of matches Saturday on the final day of the Nyquist Invitational at West Valley College in Saratoga. The Pirates (1-3) ran away from Merced 15-6 in the first game and dropped a 14-10 decision to San Joaquin Delta in the finale. Boaz Biglin netted five goals on the day with three steals and five drawn ejections to lead the way while Evan Augusta scored four times with four assists and three steals.
Ventura 15, Merced 6
The Pirates earned their first win of the young season wit their rout of the Blue Devils.
Biglin scored twice in the first two minutes of the contest and Thomas Shea followed with another score as Ventura opened up a 3-0 lead early, Following a Merced goal, Augusta and Wyatt Dingman scored for a 5-1 VC advantage at halftime.
Ventura outscored Merced 5-1 to begin the third period with consecutive goals from Augusta, Brayden Black and Dingman opening up an 8-1 margin. Erik Schwartz and Caleb Graffious followed an Blue Devil score for a 10-2 Pirate lead with 1:40 remaining in the third period.
Augusta and Schwartz each scored early in the final quarter to put the game away, 13-4.
Black led VC with three goals in the game while Biglin totaled two scores with two steals, two drawn ejections and an assist. Augusta and Schwartz each netted a pair of scores for VC. Ethan Ortiz led Ventura in the cage with five saves.
Ventura 10, San Joaquin Delta 14
The Pirates and Mustangs were tied in the tournament finale before Delta pulled away with a big third quarter.
Shea and Biglin each netted equalizers in the first period before goals by Biglin and Augusta tied the match at 4-4 with 5:35 remaining in the second. Biglin netted his third goal of the half wit three seconds remaining to send the game into halftime tied 5-5.
Augusta and Schwartz each found the inside of the cage early in the third period to knot the score at 7-7 before Delta scored four straight goals to hold an 11-7 edge at the quarter break. Shea scored at the 2:42 mark of the final stanza to pull VC to within 12-10, but the Pirates could get no closer.
Biglin ended the game with three scores while Augusta and Shea each recorded a pair of goals. Biglin also drew three ejections and Augusta had three assists with two steals. Ortiz had nine saves in goal for Ventura.
The Pirates will next play San Diego Mesa and El Camino at the San Diego Miramar Mini on Friday Sept. 13.