Ventura Goes From Victory to Defeat in Last 23 Seconds

The Ventura High boys’ water polo team was 23 seconds from capturing its first Southern Section title.

Instead, Santa Barbara turned it into a nightmare.

Santa Barbara’s Nolan Flavell scored with 23 seconds to play to tie the score. Parker Borneman recovered a loose ball and scored with six seconds to play to lift the Dons to an 8-7 victory in a Southern Section Division IV final Wednesday at UC Santa Barbara.

“The only thing you can say is that this hurts bad,” Ventura goalkeeper David Miller said.

The Cougars (24-6) trailed, 6-5, entering the fourth quarter. Derek Doler scored with 4:12 to play to tie the score, 6-6.

The Cougars pulled ahead when Teague Savitch scored with 1:54 to play.

After Flavell’s goal tied the score, Borneman deflected a Ventura pass, won control of the ball and raced 40 meters. He beat Miller, who made 14 saves, for the game-winner.

“I just got a piece of the ball and took off,” said Borneman, who scored twice. “Every day, the last thing in practice we work on is the down two goals with two minutes scenario.”

Santa Barbara (24-9) won its second title. The Channel League rivals have historically played close games. Earlier this season, Ventura defeated the Dons, 9-8. Santa Barbara won a rematch, 13-12.

“[Borneman] made a great play,” Ventura Coach Joe Abing said. “Santa Barbara made some huge plays.”

Ventura converted five of seven man-advantage opportunities and held Santa Barbara scoreless in four similar opportunities.

Dons goalkeeper Chris Quijano made 14 saves, including four in the fourth quarter.