By Isabella Dandoy – (@DandoyIsabella) – Spear Reporter
SJSU (6-9) women’s water polo emerged victorious against CSUN (6-4) in a close 6-5 match.
The team won its first game of the day against Marist College. They completed the first day of the Santa Clara Tournament with a 2-0 record.
They are currently on a four-game win streak after losing eight straight.
In the first period, Sophomore Maiken Pardon scored the first goal on a power play. Freshman Genevieve Larkin assisted Senior Lior Ben David on a late goal to end the first period. The Spartans were up 2-0.
The Spartans went scoreless in the second period. SJSU took 22 missed shots and turned the ball over 13 times in the entire game. Graduate Clarissa Wandinger, Pardon, and Ben David accounted for some of those inaccuracies.
The third period showed improvements. Graduate Hannah Henry‘s clutch steal led to another point courtesy of Sophomore Lucy Miszeweski. Henry was strong on defense and racked up three steals and 11 saves overall.
Junior Ryann Lucchesi also got on the board, but the Matadors scored with a minute and a half left on the clock. The Spartans were now down 4-5.
However, the fourth and final period revealed a quick and efficient SJSU offense. Freshman Sinia Plotz scored on a penalty shot (5-5) and Miszewski scored her second goal of the game after an assist by Plotz.
The Spartans were up 6-5 with five minutes remaining. Fortunately, the Matadors were unsuccessful with 16 shot attempts, and the Spartans were left victorious.
SJSU women’s water polo will close the Santa Clara Tournament tomorrow against CSU Monterey Bay and Brown University. The team will face CSU Monterey Bay first at noon.