By Jonathan Cañas (@jonathancanas_) – Spear Reporter
Maiken Pardon going for a loose ball | Photo via SJSU athletics
San Jose State women’s water polo (6-6) split its four games at the Bronco Invitational held in Santa Clara, Calif.
Day One:
In its first match the SJSU dominated Austin College (NCAA III). The Spartans blew the Kangaroos out of the water with a final score of 25-1.
Freshman Paxtyn Reihs and junior Lucy Miszewski had a pair of hat tricks as 11 Spartans were able to get a goal on the board.
To round off its day, SJSU went to-toe-to-toe against No. 13 University of the Pacific, losing 8-7.
There were four lead changes and one tie but the real action came in the last 49 seconds with the score tied at 6-6.
The Tigers (8-3) took a 7-6 lead with 49 seconds left in the game thanks to sophomore Dora Alaksza.
With 21 seconds left, Spartans’ freshman Emma Ruzic scored off of a rebound to tie the game yet again.
Fresh off a timeout, Alaksza scored the game-winning goal with an assist from junior Hila Futorian to end the SJSU comeback.
Day Two:
To start the second day, SJSU took on Bay Area foe CSU East Bay (NCAA II). Spartans’ netminder Zsofia Hadju tallied 11 saves in the Spartans’ 13-6 win.
In their final game, San Jose narrowly lost to Brown University 8-7.
The Spartans had a 6-4 lead at halftime but the Bears (7-5) would go on 4-0 run that stretched into the start of the fourth period.
SJSU junior Renee Fleming brought the deficit down to one in the final minute of the contest but it was too little, too late.
Darcy Spark continued her amazing season, totaling three goals and two steals in the defeat.
“We’re showing a lot of grit,” SJSU head coach Beth Harberts said. “I think the closeness of these games is giving us a lot of experience to play tough through the final minute.”
The Spartans will need to use that experience in their first home meet against Stanford on Mar. 2 at 1 p.m.
