By: Mohammad Najimi (@mnajimisjsu) – Spear Reporter | Spartans’ senior driver Mael Suchet goes up to take a hot on goal against the Falcons on Nov. 21. (Photo courtesy of SJSU Athletics)
No. 9 and second seeded San Jose State (12-7, 5-1 WCC) punched its ticket to the semifinals of the West Coast Conference Men’s Water Polo Tournament on Nov. 21 with a 14–10 victory over seventh seeded Air Force (17-15, 0-6 WCC) at the Cadet Natatorium in Colorado Springs.
Senior driver Mateja Bosić paced the Spartans with a season-high four goals and an assist, while freshman utility Sam Keightley added three goals and two steals.
Keightley has now scored three goals or more in six consecutive games.
Sophomore driver Samu Biros chipped in two goals and three steals as SJSU made the most of its high-pressure possessions, including a 3-for-8 mark on power plays.
“This game against Air Force was a really tough game,” SJSU head coach Gabor Sarusi said. “Air Force is a really good team.”
The Falcons leaned heavily on their top scorers to stay within reach. Junior utility Tom Leggett and junior attacker Jack Richards accounted for eight of the Falcons’ ten goals, scoring four each and combining for all three of the team’s successful penalty shots.
Despite their efforts, the Falcons could not erase the deficit built early in the match.
The Spartans seized control immediately, striking four times in the opening period.
SJSU continued its surge in the second period, adding five goals while capitalizing on defensive lapses and controlling the center of the pool.
The Spartans entered halftime with a 9-4 lead.
Falcons head coach Ryan Brown received the match’s only yellow card 40 seconds into the second quarter, punctuating a tense stretch for a Falcons team struggling to keep pace.
The Falcons responded with their best quarter of the day in the third, outscoring the Spartans 3–2 as Leggett and Richards mounted a brief rally.
The Falcons pushed the tempo, earned quality shots and briefly cut into the deficit, but the Spartans remained composed.
Both teams exchanged goals in a high-energy fourth quarter, but the Spartans never allowed the Falcons closer than two goals.
Leggett completed his four-goal outing with a trio of late strikes, including a successful penalty, but the comeback effort came too late.
SJSU junior goalkeeper Brendon Gyapjas anchored the team defensively with 13 saves, while Air Force senior goalkeeper Luca Smith finished with 11.
The Falcons went 3-for-7 on power plays and a perfect 3-for-3 on penalties, but still struggled to close the gap in even-strength situations. The Spartans went 1-for-2 on penalty shots.
With the win, SJSU advances to the semifinal round, where they will look to carry its momentum as they take on Pepperdine University at noon on Nov. 22 at the Cadet Natatorium in Colorado Springs, Colo.
