By Jonathan Cañas (@jonathancanas_) – Spear Reporter
Spartan sophomore Maro Tazzo in shooting motion against Princeton | Photo by Christian Vieyra – The Spear
San Jose State men’s water polo finished third in the WCC after its win over Cal Baptist University.
The Spartans (10-8, 4-2 WCC) won 16-13 behind junior center Bence Szabo’s team-high four goals and a 6-0 run in the second quarter.
With a minute to go in the second quarter, the Lancers’ (18-17, 3-3 WCC) senior goalie Trevor Benge was fought to keep the score at 6-6.
However, SJSU junior Lázló Szieben decided to play spoiler and scored a goal to make it 7-6 with four seconds to go in the second quarter.
The Spartans blew the game wide open after scoring four unanswered goals in the third quarter to make 11-6.
Even with one more quarter to go SJSU didn’t take its foot off the pedal. The Lancers put up a fight in the last quarter but it was too little too late as they outscored the Spartans 7-5 to make it a 16-13 game.
Spartan freshman goalkeeper Brendon Gyapjas had a busy day as the Lancers outshot the Spartans 37-29.
Gyapjas recorded his 12 saves in the first three quarters and finished third in the conference in saves with 43 on the year.
SJSU now turns its attention towards this year’s WCC water polo tournament in a rematch against the University of Pacific, which finished sixth in the conference.
The Spartans will battle against the Tigers Friday afternoon, Nov. 17 in the first round of the tournament at Raleigh Runnels Memorial Pool in Malibu, Calif.