By Jessica Jimenez — Reporter
San Jose State women’s water polo (5-12, 0-3 MPSF) hosted No. 6 Arizona State University and trailed behind the whole game, falling 14-7.
Despite the seven-goal deficit, junior driver Lili Urvari completed a hat trick scoring three goals for the Spartans.
“We really wanted to beat ASU,” Urvari said. “We played against them earlier this season and we only lost by two so that was bad. I scored three goals, but it doesn’t really matter when we lose.”
ASU (12-4,1-0 MPSF) jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first quarter until utility sophomore player Clarissa Wandinger put one up for SJSU on a power play to end the frame.
Several corner shots were taken by the Spartans in the second quarter, but ASU freshman goalkeeper Itzahiana Baca was able to save five.
SJSU junior utility player Riley Agerbeek opened up the second quarter with a goal and less than a minute later sophomore utility player Olga Descalzi Portell aggressively hit the back on the ASU cage.
Urvari threw one in for the Spartans on an even strength play assisted by junior 2-meter defender Isabella Schmidt.
The halftime mark ended with the Sun Devils ahead 7-4.
Opening up the second half of the game, two ASU players skipped past SJSU sophomore goalkeeper Hannah Henry boosting the lead for the team.
Schmidt and Urvari were the only goal scorers for the Spartans in the third quarter. Urvari added one in the final quarter, but it wasn’t enough as the Sun Devils swam away with the win.
After losing the last game to USC, senior 2-meter Jacqui Maisey and the rest of the team focused on offense and defensive plays this past week.
“I think it was a bit of disappointment for the team to see the score this week,” Maisey said. “We know that we trained hard and hopefully we will see them again at the MPSF conference and we’ll be able to have a better score.”
Junior utility player Amira Van Buren scored an impressive six goals on seven shots for the Sun Devils.
With the LMU invitational looming, head coach Beth Harberts says the team will focus on cleaning up the mistakes from the previous two games.
“I think we have a lot of speed over these other programs,” Harberts said. “LMU is obviously going to be the highest competitor in that tournament and that’s someone we want to go after.”
The LMU Invitational starts on March 20.
Follow Jessica on Twitter @jessicajim06