By: Mohammad Najimi (@mnajimisjsu) – Spear Reporter | Spartans’ Samu Biros pops up to take a shot looking to score against the Broncos on Oct. 18. (Photo by Cassandra Washington – Spear Photographer)
The No. 8 ranked San Jose State men’s water polo team (7-5, 2-1) defeated No. 17 ranked Santa Clara University (7-9, 1-2), 11–8, on Saturday afternoon at the Spartan Recreation Aquatics Center, snapping a two-game losing streak.
Senior driver Mateja Bosić led the Spartans with three goals and one steal, while junior utility Mitchell Keightley, freshman utility Sam Keightley, sophomore driver Samu Biros and senior two-meter Maro Tiozzo each added two goals apiece in a balanced offensive performance.
Santa Clara’s freshman center Ashton Brown, freshman utility Imme van der Schaaf and sophomore utility Riccardo De Simon each scored two goals for the Broncos.
Following a narrow 13–12 loss to No. 14 University of the Pacific on October 11, head coach Gabor Sarusi said his team entered this matchup with a renewed sense of purpose.
“We had a two-game losing streak so we really wanted to come out and protect the house,” Sarusi said. “We wanted to get out of the slump that we had. I felt like their energy was way better so I can tell that they really wanted to win this conference game.”
SJSU’s defenders clogged shooting lanes and blocked multiple attempts, while junior goalkeeper Brendon Gyapjas anchored the back line with timely saves. He ended the game with 12 saves.
“I think Brendon had a way better game too in the cage,” Sarusi said. “I think our shot blocks were better too. Our five against six defense was better.”
Mitchell Keightley, who scored two goals and recorded two steals, said the team’s success came from rediscovering their defensive identity.
“I think just falling back on what I know, what I’ve been good at for the last couple of years — getting in the lane, getting steals and getting shots off the water,” Mitchell Keightley said. “I think it was a good team performance and the boys were really frenzied even though they had a couple of runs.”
Mitchell Keightley also added that creating offense from defense was an area the team had emphasized after recent games.
“I think it was really important,” Mitchell Keightley said. “I think our lack of stops on the defensive end definitely has resulted in less impact on the offensive end, so today was good to get a lot of blocks.”
Bosić’s hat trick and two steals helped SJSU maintain control throughout the match.
“I saw that the team was really sacrificing in defense,” Bosić said. “Everybody was pushing hard, we were pressing them hard. We played good team defense. We made some mistakes, but that’s normal. I think we controlled the game until the end.”
The Spartans will host another top 10 opponent, No. 8 ranked Pepperdine, at noon on Friday, Oct. 24 at the SRAC.
