By Ajah Yee (@ajah_yee)
After two consecutive losses, San Jose State’s women’s water polo team flipped the script with a 9-5 comeback victory against the Santa Clara Broncos Saturday.
The Spartans (9-13, 0-1 MPSF) had a slow start in the first period with senior Jordan Milich-Misikini scoring the first and only goal for the team.
“I thought we started a little bit slower than we wanted to,” said head coach Gabor Sarusi. “But then some of the experienced players stepped up.”
The Broncos (10-11, 1-1 GCC) and Spartans were tied after the opening quarter.
Both teams remained knotted up at halftime as they each added a goal to make it 2-2 at the break.
SJSU picked it up in the third period behind strong defense with seven steals to help them dominate in the pool.
“They came out strong,” senior Taylor Peters said. “They put us on our heels, and we had to answer to it.”
The experienced players Sarusi referred to were Peters and junior Guara Garcia Delgado.
Peters had 10 saves to contribute to the team’s win.
“Our defense was on,” Peters said. “My teammates were helping funnel the ball to me.”
Delgado was hot in the third quarter, attempting six shots and scoring three goals by the fourth quarter for a team-high.
By the third period the Spartans were in control, 6-3.
“I was nervous at first, so I didn’t play as well,” said Delgado, “but then I picked it up and I was pretty complacent with it.”
Also contributing to the Spartans’ goals was freshman Lili Uvari, who scored the second most goals for the team with two shots.
Uvari won the sprints in the first two quarters, followed by Delgado in the last two quarters.
The Broncos’ leading scorer was Annie Eldredge, who attempted three shots and scored two goals.
The loss for Santa Clara marks its second in a row.
SJSU will travel to UC Berkeley on March 31 with a 5 p.m. start time.