By Anthony Lucido — Editor
San Jose State men’s water polo (10-12, 1-2 GCC) came out on top 12-10 against UC Irvine (7-9, 0-1 MPSFC) in its first game of the Julian Fraser Memorial.
The first period began with Spartan senior 2-meter defender Niels Hofmeijer grabbing first possession of the ball and passing it to freshman utility Laszlo Szieben.
Szieben sent the ball soaring high past the net.
The Anteaters attempted back-to-back shots only to be deflected by SJSU’s senior goalkeeper Yahav Fire.
In the third minute of the first half freshman utility Bence Szabo dunked the ball into the net scoring the first goal of the game for the Spartans 1-0.
UCI quickly followed suit 20 seconds later with junior center Nikola Ilic propelling the ball with even strength and tying with SJSU 1-1.
The Spartans amped up their offense, making three more goals and taking a lead 4-2 after the first period.
Fire proved difficult for the Anteaters by blocking several shots in the first period as if he were a crocodile breaching the water.
SJSU continued extending its lead in the second period with UCI playing catch up 7-4.
On the final second of the second period, the Anteaters’ freshman attacker Dylan Patist beat the Spartan defense to cut their deficit to 7-5.
Patist sent the ball hurling center off the net and sent UCI families into a rave with the on-the-dot shot.
The Anteaters started catching up to the Spartans 10-7 by the end of the third period 10-7 and the tides began shifting in the fourth period.
SJSU was not connecting its shots. The Spartans began missing and turning the ball turnover to UCI.
The Anteaters stayed close together, connecting their passes and piercing the Spartan defensive wall.
UCI’s defense spread SJSU apart making it harder to shoot.
The Spartans, however, stalled to ensure their 12-10 victory.
SJSU returns later in the day Saturday to square off against Princeton at 4:30 p.m. in the Spartan Recreation and Aquatic Center.
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