The Ventura College Pirates’ women’s water polo team bulldozed through Santa Monica College Wednesday afternoon, staying undefeated in conference play heading into the Western State Conference Championship next week.

The Pirates defeated the Corsairs 16-4. The Pirates shook off a rusty first period, in which they scored only one goal, by adding five more to end the first half with a 6-1 lead.

The defense was the catalyst, allowing only one goal in the first half, and four overall.
Sophomore Carly Clark attributed the success of the defense to communication.

“We are playing as a team, talking to each other,” said Clark. “We don’t get down on each other.”

Clark was the main contributor on the offensive side as well, scoring five of the 16 goals for the Pirates. She helped boost the offense in the second period when she scored four goals in five offensive possessions.

Her fourth goal of the period came when she stole the ball and took the ball all the way on a breakaway.
The Pirates stayed aggressive defensively to start the second half. They allowed only one goal while scoring four of their own to take a definitive 10-2 lead after three periods.

According to Clark, building up a big lead was important for the team, providing somewhat of a safety net.

“It’s not such a big deal if we screw up,” she said. “Plus, everybody gets to play.”

The Pirates showed strong team camaraderie, expressing enthusiasm and excitement by cheering, smiling, and encouraging one another.

Freshman Sarah Colvin was cheered on by her teammates when she scored a goal towards the end of the game, her first of the season.

The Pirates hope to continue their success in the always-important WSC championships on Nov. 6 and 7.