By Sarah Mosteller (@sarahmoste1ler) – Spear Reporter // Photo via SJSU Athletics
The Spartans knocked the rust off in their first tournament of the season, securing two wins for a perfect weekend in Davis, California.
Day 1
The No. 16 SJSU men’s water polo team defeated the No. 4 Aggies 8-7 in their season-opening game at the Aggie Roundup.
The Spartans had five different goal scorers, getting contributions from all over as they came back from a 5-2 deficit halfway through the third quarter.
Junior Laszlo Szbein scored three big goals to lead the Spartans. Mark Kis, Bence Szabo, Giancarlo Marquez, and Mateja Bosic also put up points.
“We had a great game at Davis,” said assistant head coach Gabor Sarusi. “The team played as a team is supposed to, for each other.”
Despite offensive pressure from the Aggies in the third, San Jose State answered with goals of their own to send the game into the fourth with the Spartans trailing behind 6-5.
The score tied up with just four minutes to go. The Aggies were unable to create another goal-scoring possession.
With three seconds left on the clock, the Spartans made their way through the UC Davis defense and scored to secure the win.
UC Davis has won every match-up against the San Jose State men’s water polo team since it was reinstated in 2015. The Spartans’ victory denied the Aggies a ninth-straight win.
Day 2
The team closed out the weekend in a sweeping 16-2 win against UC Merced on Sunday.
The Spartans built a quick lead to dominate all four quarters as the Bobcats struggled to respond to the blowout.
Senior Nikola Nikolic led the team with two goals and three assists.
The depth of the Spartan roster was on full display as Márk Kis, Mael Suchet, Gal Haimovich, Mitchell Keightley, Bence Szabo, Giancarlo Marquez, Garrett Duardo, Erik Duesund, and Tiozzo all scored.
Senior goalkeeper Colton Boyd had seven saves to shut out the Bobcats.
The Spartans now turn their focus to the most difficult test of the early season. They will face No. 1 UC Berkeley at the Spieker Aquatics Complex in Berkeley, California.