April 25, 2014
Los Angeles, Calif.----- Despite three goals by San Jose State University's women's water polo single-season scoring school recordholder Clara Espar Llaquet, the University of California held on for an 8-7 overtime win in a Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Tournament (MPSF) quarterfinal round match.
Ashley Young of the Golden Bears (18-7) matched Espar Llaquet for match high scoring honors with three. Her final goal came in the first overtime period giving Cal an 8-6 lead.
"This was the best defense we ever played. Our defense was unreal. Cal played great defense, too," said San José State interim head coach Johnny Bega. "We put so much energy into our defense that our shots were not as strong on offense.
"On offense, we couldn't click like we needed to. I'm very proud of our team. They left it all out in the water."
The San Jose State loss sends the Spartans (20-12) into the fifth-place game against either host University of Southern California or CSU Bakersfield on Sunday, April 27, at 10:30 a.m.
Cal's win over San Jose State was its third of the season and second by one goal. The teams played to 9-8, 12-10 and 8-7 decisions in 2014.
Twice in the third quarter, the Spartans took one-goal leads of 4-3 and 5-4 on scores by Alisa Argend and Rachel Henryon the power play, respectively. Neither team lead by more than one goal in regulation. Argend's second goal of the match late in the fourth quarter tied the score at 6-6 and forced overtime.
Bianca Seyfertalso scored for San Jose State in regulation play.
Cal's Anna Illies opened the overtime scoring with a power play goal and then Young's decisive even-strength score late in the first overtime period proved to be the difference.
Espar Llaquet, who played the last 34 of 38 minutes in foul trouble, scored the final goal of the match on a power play with 57 seconds left in the overtime. She now has 95 goals for the season - the sixth best single-season total in MPSF history.
Both teams scored four times with a player advantage. Cal's first goal came on a penalty shot conversion by Roser Tarrago.
"They put the ball in one more time than we did," Bega concluded.
San Jose State's Katelynn Thompsonwas credited with 10 saves. Cal goalkeeper Madeline Trabucco stopped four shots.
Mountain Pacific Sports Federation women's water polo
Uytengsu Aquatics Center, Los Angeles, Calif.
April 25, 2014
| Quarterfinal match | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1OT | 2OT | Total |
| San Jose State (20-12) | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7 |
| California (18-7) | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 8 |
| Goal Scoring |
| San José State - Clara Espar Llaquet, 3; Alisa Argend, 2; Bianca Seyfert, Rachel Henry, 1, each. |
| Cal - Ashley Young, 3; Roser Tarrago, Dora Antal, 2, each; Anna Illies, 1. |
| Goalkeeper Saves |
| San José State - Katelynn Thompson, 10. |
| Cal - Madeline Trabucco, 4. |
| Ejections |
| San José State - 11. |
| Cal - 9. |