Ventura fended off the Santa Barbara boys water polo team on Thursday, posting a 9-7 Channel League victory against the visiting Dons in the teams’ second meeting of the season.
Santa Barbara shut out the Cougars in the third quarter to pull within one goal, making for a fourth quarter struggle. Each team scored twice in the first five minutes of the period, but Devin Mefford’s first goal of the match with two minutes left made it 9-7 and proved to be the difference.
Ventura needed overtime to defeat the Dons 10-8 in their first meeting on Oct. 6.
The win clinches at least second place in league for the No. 6 Cougars, who can earn a share of the league title with a win against No. 3 Dos Pueblos on Oct. 8. Santa Barbara, which had its league record evened at 3-3, must either upset the Chargers on Tuesday or beat Buena in its regular season finale on Nov. 5 to automatically earn a playoff berth as the Channel League’s No. 3 team.
Evan Schu and Ken Myers both tallied two goals, three steals and an assist to lead the Dons.
VENTURA 9, SANTA BARBARA 7
Santa Barbara 1 3 1 2 — 7
Ventura 2 4 0 3 — 9
SB: Foley 2, Myers 2, Davis 1, Schu 1, Wolfe, 1. Saves: Stilwell 7
V: Flint 3, Allen 2, Tice, 2, Mefford 1, Miller 1. Saves: NA
