In the last league Big Game water polo match to be contested in a Lompoc School District all-shallow pool, the Cabrillo Conquistadores offered conclusive evidence Wednesday that they/ve mastered the venue. They picked all but the lint from Lompoc/s pockets 7 winning 18-2.

The victory lifts the league-leading Conqs to a 6-0 Los Padres League record and dumps the Braves to 2-4.

At the ancient Lompoc High tank 7 which will become a footnote in January when the new municipal aquatic center opens 7 the Conqs/ telepathic defense intercepted 24 Brave passes and so hounded the home team that they connected on only two of 20 shots.

Leader of the theft brigade was Conq Nick Darling who pilfered eight passes, most of them destined for the Lompoc hole set.

&#8220It was my psychic ability,C Darling joked afterward. &#8220It/s getting up in the passing lanes and helping out set so I grab balls going in there.C

Darling personally short-circuited the Braves/ attack with steals on Lompoc/s first three possessions of the second half, a time when the Blues were still at least remotely in the ballgame. After the period, the scoreboard read 14-2 and handwriting on the wall was unneeded.

Darling has led the Conqs in steals nearly every contest but even coach Joel Jory was impressed yesterday.

&#8220Eight steals in a game is a lot,C agreed the coach. &#8220You don/t see that very often.C

Jory estimated his team steal total to be highest of the season.

&#8220They/re smart,C said Lompoc coach Kevin Hicks. &#8220They play good lane defense. They anticipate well.

&#8220And they/re aggressive and quick.

&#8220Part of it was their defense but I want us to do more offensively. We need to shoot more.C

Lompoc did not trigger its first shot until 3:21 remained in the first quarter. By the end of the period Cabrillo already led 4-1.

On offense, the Conquistadores were sizzling. They connected on nine of 12 shots in the first half to establish a 9-2 lead then hit on five of nine in the third quarter. They totalled 30 shots7 50% higher than Lompoc.

And they took advantage.

Through three quarters 7 when subs began to flood the pool 7 the Conq shooting percentage was six times better than Lompoc/s at 67%, even with acrobatic Brave goalie Kolten White stopping nine attempts.

The star of the Cabrillo attack was Joey Gullikson who registered five of Cabrillo/s first eight goals and totalled seven for the afternoon.

Other top Cabrillo scorers were Darling and Daniel McNutt with four goals each. Sam Holt scored both of Lompoc/s goals.

&#8220Playing against a strong team like Righetti last night helped us out and made us better,C said Gullikson.

&#8220We knew Righetti was a good team but we were shocked it was so bad. It made us step it up.C

No. 3-ranked Righetti waxed Cabrillo 18-7 Tuesday night.

&#8220It made sure our guys didn/t come out lax,C Jory agreed. &#8220It/s a little bit of a reality check.C

The one-sidedness of Tuesday/s contest also sobered the team with regard to their annual CIF playoff prospects.

&#8220We have to learn to play water polo again,C Jory said. &#8220Joey, Byron (Mikovicz), Nick and Daniel all have to share time at set and we made some mistakes doing that.C

Until 10 days ago, the focal point of the Conq attack was big Ethan Hadley, but the 200-pounder was injured in a skateboard accident and was probably lost for the season.

&#8220Ethan had 80-90% of the time in set,C Jory estimated. &#8220The other guys split 20%. Now they split 100%.C

Cabrillo/s immediate challenge however is not CIF, but the LPL title which requires at least one victory in two remaining contests vs. Nipomo and Santa Ynez. The Conqs host Nipomo today.

Lompoc meanwhile can still pick up a third place finish with victories over Santa Maria Tuesday and Nipomo Thursday.

Sports Writer John McReynolds can be reached at 737-1055, or jmcreynolds@lompocrecord.com

October 27, 2005