By Matthew Meyer (@mattmeyersjsu) – Spear Reporter | Junior attacker Darcy Spark looks to take a shot on goal, accompanied by teammate junior attacker Jennine Osorio (Photo courtesy of SJSU Athletics)
San Jose State women’s water polo (6-14, 0-5 MPSF) faced off against No. 16 UC San Diego (9-10, 2-3 BWC) and fell 13-12 in a thrilling back-and-forth ba-ttle in their final match at the Aztec Invitational on Sunday.
The match came down to the final two minutes of the fourth period with the teams tied 11-11 until Tritons’ junior attacker Emily Cloherty scored to put them ahead, followed by junior attacker Abigail Schechter’s power play goal with 47 seconds left to seal the Spartans’ fate.
The Tritons were 4-for-4 on penalty attempts, with two coming in the third period.
The Spartans kept it close throughout the match and never dropped below a two goal deficit, matching the score seven times until the very end.
“We were going goal for goal for about four quarters,” SJSU head coach Beth Harberts said. “It really continues to give our team that game time experience in terms of how we’re able to have complete four quarters but also hang in there when the adversity is a little bit about us.”
Despite the loss, the Spartans put up a strong performance in the water. Junior attacker Darcy Spark scored six times with one assist and a steal.
Spark entered the week ranked second for the most goals scored in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, with her total now sitting at 75 after their weekend in Southern California.
Senior goalkeeper Tatiana Raffin was in net the entire match, recording 10 saves on 13 goals allowed and also picking up a steal.
Raffin entered the week tied for No. 5 in the MPSF for saves and ended the weekend at a total of 146 saves on the season.
Sophomore 2-meter Bridget Cranley scored twice for the Spartans, with goal contributions also coming from junior 2-meter defenders Mackenzy Clark and Rose Jensen, sophomore driver Sarah Woren and junior attacker Jennine Osorio.
Clark’s goal was the Spartans final goal of the match, coming in the fourth period with 35 seconds remaining.
“I’m still very proud of the overall effort and their attitude and our ability to go up and down the pool, I think it says a lot to our training and how much grit they have,” Harberts said.
The Spartans have lost their last five matches and will head back home to take on MPSF conference opponent Indiana University at 1 p.m. on Friday, March 20 at the Spartan Recreation and Aquatic Center.
Friday’s match is the last regular season conference match for the Spartans, with both teams looking to pick up their first conference win of the season.
