April 7, 2014
Woodland, Calif.----- Following its first Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) women's water polo victory of the season, San José State University swept the conference's Player of the Week and Newcomer of the Week awards.
Goalkeeper Katelynn Thompson was named the Player of the Week and the Spartans' leading scorer Clara Espar Llaquetreceived the Newcomer of the Week award from the MPSF. Both Spartans played key roles in the 7-5 win over #5-Arizona State on April 6.
"They definitely deserve it. This recognition shows how well our team is playing. They (Thompson and Espar Llaquet) definitely helped us in the win," said San José State interim head coach Johnny Bega. "It shows how much Katelynn has improved.
"Clara is so consistent. Besides her scoring, she plays great defense and has done a lot of other things for us."
Thompson, a freshman from Loomis, Calif., matched her season high of 11 saves in the victory. Despite its lowest goal total in a win this season, the Spartans never trailed in the match. Thompson did not become the San José State starter until 22 games into the season. #8-San Jose State is 6-1 in its last seven games with the first-year player as the last line of defense.
For the San José State goalkeeper, it is the second week in a row she is honored by the MPSF. Thompson was the Newcomer of the Week for matches ending March 30.
Espar Llaquet was one of three Spartans to score twice in the Arizona State win. She opened the scoring in the first quarter and added the team's only power play goal of the match in the third quarter. For the freshman from Barcelona, Spain, she extended her consecutive-game scoring streak to 29 and increased her season goal total to a school-record 90.
The MPSF Newcomer award is Espar Llaquet's fourth of the season and third in the last four weeks. She ranks second in the MPSF with a 3.10 goals per game scoring average.
San José State (19-10, 1-3 MPSF) next faces UCLA, Saturday, April 12, in a MPSF match. The action begins in the Spieker Aquatics Complex at 3:00 p.m.