By: Mohammad Najimi (@mnajimisjsu) – Spear Reporter | Spartans pose for a group photo after the championship game against Cal Baptist on Nov. 23. (Photo courtesy of SJSU Athletics)
Fifth seeded California Baptist (24-11, 5-4 WCC) kept trying to swim its way back to the surface, but second seeded San Jose State (14-7, 8-1 WCC) pulled them into a rip current of pressure, goals and saves, to clinch a 15–9 victory Sunday afternoon and another West Coast Conference crown.
The victory marks SJSU’s second conference title in the past three seasons and solidifies the program’s continued rise as a national contender.
“I think we played as a team,” SJSU head coach Gabor Sarusi said. “We wanted it more.”
The Spartans never trailed in the match, maintaining control despite the Lancers tying the score three separate times in the beginning of the game.
The turning point for SJSU came in the second period, where a six-goal outburst helped them pull away for good.
Senior driver Mateja Bosić powered the team’s attack with a season-high five-goals, one-assist performance, while sophomore driver Samu Biros added four goals and two assists in one of his most efficient outings of the season.
Senior utility László Szieben and freshman utility Sam Keightley each scored twice, contributing to an offense that took advantage of counterattacks and perimeter movement.
The Lancers, outshooting the Spartans 39–31, managed to stay within striking distance due to strong efforts from sophomore attacker Michael Abshier, senior attacker Wyatt Bugbee and freshman attacker Whitley Beamon, all of whom finished with two goals apiece.
“Those are the guys you can’t guard 1-on-1, sometimes even 2-on-1,” Sarusi said. “I was very happy with our tactics and it worked well.”
However, the Lancers had trouble converting when it mattered most, including on the power play and on their lone penalty shot opportunity.
SJSU junior goalkeeper Brendon Gyapjas made 17 saves that anchored the Spartans defensive effort.
Gyapjas also won the Most Outstanding Player for his stellar performance, posting 41 saves and a .569 save percentage in three games during the WCC tournament.
Gyapjas’ performance for SJSU in this tournament was vital for the Spartans as his consistent energy brought confidence to the team in making pivotal stops and keeping their lead.
“After yesterday’s game, I definitely wasn’t the best. Today, I was like ‘Maybe, that’s the last game of my life.’ I told everybody to play like this. We all brought the energy and the team was not scared,” Gyapjas said.
The Spartans now advance to the NCAA Men’s Water Polo Tournament held from Dec. 5–7 at Stanford’s Avery Aquatic Center in Palo Alto, Cali.
