By Christian Vieyra (@thecvieyra)– Spear Reporter | Photo courtesy of SJSU Athletics | A Spartans’ men’s water polo player treads the water.
The no. 15 SJSU men’s water polo (3-2) won one of three of its 2023 Big West-WCC Clash contests, losing to no. 8 UC Davis 15-12 and no. 11 UC San Diego 11-10 and defeating no. 12 UC Santa Barbara 12-6 in Irvine at the Anteaters Aquatics Complex.
Vs. UC Davis
On Sept. 30, SJSU lost its first game of the day to the Aggies 15-12, which saw UC Davis leading the whole game.
It was the second match played between the two schools this year. SJSU defeated UC Davis on Sept. 9, 8-7.
After gaining a three-goal lead to start the game, the Aggies continued to add to their lead.
After five unanswered goals starting in the first quarter and going into the second quarter, the Aggies had expanded their lead to seven.
That 11-4 deficit buried the Spartans, who failed to mount a comeback.
Junior László Szieben led SJSU with two goals and one assist.
Vs. UC San Diego
In the second match of the day, SJSU junior Bence Szabo scored an equalizer, tying the match at 10-10 with 1:37 minutes left. But UC San Diego freshman Landon Akerstrom scored the game-winning goal 31 seconds later.
The Spartans started off by giving up three goals, similar to their first match of the day.
Four consecutive goals in the first and second quarter put the Spartans ahead 4-3. The Tritons answered with three straight to go up 6-4 at halftime.
Szabo led SJSU with four goals in the match.
After a back-and-forth match, the Spartans looked to regroup the next day.
Vs. UC Santa Barbara
On Oct. 1, the second day of the Big West-WCC Clash saw the Spartans avenge a loss to UC Santa Barbara in a rematch from last weekend’s affair vs. UC Santa Barbara, defeating the Anteaters 12-6.
Opposite of the first two matches of the weekend, the Spartans got off to a 3-0 lead.
The SJSU defense was able to hold the Anteaters to two goals in the first half.
The Spartans went on a three-goal run to put them up 7-2 at halftime.
This five-point lead was enough to bury the Anteaters, as the Spartans were able to maintain the lead throughout the second half and extend it to six in the final minutes.
Senior Márk Kis led the Spartans with three goals.
The Spartans will now have an 11-day break. Their next match against the crosstown rival Santa Clara University will be at 4 p.m. on Oct. 12 at the Spartan Recreation and Aquatic Center in San Jose.