Mroz, Bruno rise up to help unbeaten Vaqueros go 4-0 in Ventura Tourney

Reagan Mroz scored a season-high four goals in a 13-4 win over Santa Monica and Victoria Bruno earned her first two wins in the cage on Saturday as unbeaten SBCC completed a 4-0 run in the Ventura women's water polo tournament.

The Vaqueros, the only undefeated team in the state at 19-0, built a 7-2 second-quarter lead against Hancock and went on to post a 19-10 victory at Rio Mesa High. Santa Barbara went 4-0 in the Ventura Tourney and 5-0 for the week, outscoring its opponents 85-31.

The Vaqueros took an 11-3 halftime lead against Santa Monica on the way to a WSC victory at Rio Mesa. Mroz, a sophomore from Santa Ynez High, scored three straight to extend the margin to 9-2 with 4:30 to go in the second quarter. Kendra Carr and Charissa Dorn added three goals apiece. Bruno made a season-high 11 saves for her first victory.

SBCC, seeking its third straight WSC title, is 5-0 in conference, one game ahead of Ventura (4-1) with two to play.

The Vaqueros got off to their usual fast start in the afternoon game, building a 7-2 lead over Hancock on three goals by Halie Johnson and two more from Gabrielle Ritter. The Vaqueros led 9-4 at the half and 15-7 after three quarters.

Johnson had a game-high five goals, Ivanna Bilaver scored four and Lili Talkin tossed in a season-high three goals. Johnson is the fifth-leading scorer in the state with 64 goals.

Bruno and Mackenzie Richards alternated quarters in goal with Bruno making six saves in the first and third periods and Richards blocking two shots in the second and fourth. Addison Seale had three assists.

"It was another great day for the Vaqueros," said coach Chuckie Roth. "Charissa Dorn carried us in the first game, playing phenomenal at the 2-meter position. Victoria Bruno made 11 saves and got her first win.

"And it was great to see Reagan Mroz have her first four-goal game."

The Vaqueros will play four games in the Battle at the Beach on Oct. 21-22 with Long Beach and Cerritos serving as the hosts.

Santa Monica ….…  2   1   1   0 --  4
SBCC ………...…...….  5   6   2   0 – 13
 Goals – SB: Mroz 4, Carr 3, Dorn 3, Johnson 1, Gonzalez 1, Beck 1. Goalie saves – SB: Bruno 11.

SBCC ……….…....…. 4   5   6   4 -- 19
Hancock …………… 2   2   3   3 -- 10
 Goals – SB: Johnson 5, Bilaver 4, Talkin 3, Carr 2, Ritter 2, Gonzalez 1, Mroz 1, Dorn 1. Goalie saves – SB: Bruno 6, Richards 2.