Vaqueros Improve to 20-0 All-Time With Home Win Over Ventura

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The Santa Barbara City College women's water polo team (12-1, 2-0) beat Ventura 17-10 on Wednesday night at Santa Barbara High School. The first home game of the season, it also increased their undefeated program record against Ventura to 20-0.

"That was great. I'm really happy for the kids," head coach Chukie Roth said. "We had a lot of kids get some great minutes. It was a great day."

Trailing 2-1 after the first quarter, the Vaqueros scored four straight to begin the second. Ventura countered with two goals in the final two minutes before halftime, so the teams went into the break with a 5-4 SBCC scoreline. Sienna Barelli and Max Kerr each had two first-half goals, and Zoe McGehee and part-time goalie Ava Barclay each had two first-half assists.

To start the third period, the inverse happened. Ventura netted two goals to take a 6-5 lead, but Santa Barbara countered with four in a row once again, jumping to a 9-6 advantage. All four goals came from different scorers all within two minutes of each other. Ultimately, it was a lead they would never relinquish, but Ventura shrunk their deficit to one shortly before the end of the quarter.

The Vaqueros showed their prowess in the final period to pull away for good. Six goals—from five different scorers—brought their lead to an insurmountable 17-9. Ventura scored a consolation goal with 20 seconds remaining to bring it to the 17-10 final score.

"These kids work really hard," Roth continued. "We've improved a lot in just the five weeks we've been together. We really try to develop everybody and today was a testament to that. It's awesome when you see kids make big plays in big situations."

Sascha Ebinger netted four goals to lead the Vaqueros, with Barelli and Kerr both contributing three. Barclay led the team with four assists, while Katie Strohl dished three. Barclay also led the team with three steals while Riley Olney saved nine shots in her three quarters in goal.

"A great kid, great goalie, great teammate," Roth said of Olney. "She was awesome."

Santa Barbara travels to Mt. San Antonio for the annual Mountie Classic this weekend. At the time of publication, they had won both of their games on Friday.