By Jessica Jimenez — Staff Reporter
San Jose State women’s water polo hosted UC Berkeley for their home opener at the Spartan Recreation and Aquatic Center, but were defeated 12-6.
During the Saturday afternoon game, senior 2-meter defender Jacqui Maisey was appreciative of the crowd turn out.
“I’ve been practicing at West Valley for three years,” Maisey said. “To finally come here and have more than three people at a game was fun.”
The Spartans opened up the game with sophomore utility Olga Descalzi Portell’s goal one minute into play.
Less than a minute later, while on a power play, Descalzi Portell took a powerful shot at the 2-meter line and put another one in the net for SJSU.
On the next power play, Maisey egg-battered her way up the water and scored for SJSU.
A bit later in the first, Spartan junior driver Lili Urvari hit the back of the cage, putting up another one for the team on an even strength play.
SJSU goalkeeper, junior Hannah Henry, let in two goals from Cal ending the first quarter with the Spartans in the lead at 4-2.
The Bears returned on a mission during the second quarter with junior driver Claire Sonne scoring on two even strength plays and on a 5-meter penalty shot.
SJSU could not help defend the cage and Cal went on to score two more goals, ending the quarter 7-4.
The Spartans remained scoreless in the second and third frames.
Defensively, SJSU was trying to level out the playing field but it was not enough as Cal went on to score two more goals to end the third quarter and made it 9-4.
At the 2-meter line, sophomore defender Matilda Moore powerfully put one in the back of the Bears’ cage.
“The last scramble to get that goal late in the game was really pleasing,” Moore said.
Urvari helped with another goal for the team, but it was not enough as Cal scored three more.
New head coach Beth Harberts is focused on task-oriented goals as opposed to the outcome oriented goals.
“Everyone knew going into this game what we were trying to achieve as a team defensively so I think that was positive,” said Harberts. “We’re looking forward to seeing how we compare to a top four program and this gave us good direction moving forward.
The Spartans will host Sonoma State and Stanford University on Saturday for back-to-back morning games beginning at 10 a.m. at the SRAC.
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