Feb. 23, 2014
Newport Beach, Calif.-----The San Jose State University women's water polo team defeated its highest-ranked opponent in three years with an 10-9 victory over #6-Hawaii to open final day's play at the UC Irvine Invitational.
Freshman Clara Espar Llaquet led the #11-ranked Spartans (13-6) in scoring with three goals. Co-captain Timi Molnar and Victoria Smithadded two each. Smith's first-quarter goal at the 3:27 mark broke a 2-2 tie and San Jose State led the rest of the way.
The last time a San Jose State team beat a team ranked as high as sixth in the national weekly coaches poll was an 11-9 win over then #5-ranked Hawaii on April 29, 2011.
Coming off a school-record tying eight goals in the Pacific win a day earlier, sophomore Rae Lekness hit the 50-goal mark for the season with a score against the Rainbow Wahine (6-4). Bianca Seyfert and Rachel Henryaccounted for the rest of the Spartans' scoring.
Maddie Reardonwas credited with eight saves in San Jose State's second win in the four-match tournament. The win over Hawaii avenges a 12-11 loss at the Stanford Invitational.
The Spartans take on #8-Loyola Marymount in the tournament's ninth-place match at 1:30 p.m. The Lions (7-4) defeated San Jose State earlier in the season at the Bruin Invitational in Los Angeles.
UC Irvine Invitational women's water polo tournament
Newport Beach, Calif.
February 23, 2014
| Game 18 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| #11-San Jose State (13-6) | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 10 |
| #6-Hawaii (6-4) | 2 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 9 |
| Goal scoring |
| San Jose State - Clara Espar Llaquet, 3; Timi Molnar, Victoria Smith, 2, each; Rae Lekness, Bianca Seyfert, Rachel Henry, 1, each. |
| Hawaii - Danielle Lewis, Paula Chillida Esforzado, 2, each; Taylor Molde, Caity Lopes da Silva, Emily Carr, Claire Nixon, Chloe Barr, 1, each. |
| Goalkeeper saves |
| San Jose State - Maddie Reardon, 8. |
| Hawaii - Amy Carlson, 4. |
| Ejections |
| San Jose State - 9 |
| Hawaii - 10 |