March 18, 2016
Los Angeles, Calif.----- McKenna Yates had one of her biggest days as a San Jose State University women's water polo player on the first day of the ZUMO LMU Invitational tournament.
The sophomore from San Jose had a season-best three goals in the Spartans' 14-6 win over Whittier College in the morning opener and scored the sudden-victory game-winner at 1:06 in the ninth period/fifth overtime stanza of a four-quarter match on a lob shot in a 10-9 overtime triumph over host Loyola Marymount in the nightcap.
The #11-ranked San Jose State (11-10) ended a three-game losing streak, all against top-10 ranked teams, with its doubleheader sweep.
"It's awesome. It's the most amazing feeling. We needed a goal," said Yates, who had a defender on her when she tossed her shot over the reach of LMU goalkeeper Sky Flores, who had made 15 saves. "As a team, we played our hearts out. Literally, we never gave up."
"For five overtime periods, we battled and kept it together. McKenna came through (with the goal), but it was a great play by the entire team to get that goal," said San Jose State head coach Johnny Bega who had field players Yates, Klaudia Paradi, Donia Momen and Cara Robinson and goalkeeper Alicia Magliocco in the pool the entire 14 overtime minutes.
In the opening victory over Whittier, Yates' three scores supplemented teammates Rae Lekness with a match-high five and Carla Toha Vilanova who also had three. Yates' second goal of the match with 0:34 before halftime gave San Jose State a 7-6 lead which the Spartans would not relinquish the rest of the way.
Magliocco replaced starter Tayler Peters in goal for the Spartans to start the second quarter and stopped 11 Poets shots in the victory.
Magliocco would come up big in the Loyola Marymount win with seven saves and a pair of steals. Two of her saves and one of her steals came during the five overtime periods, the last three of which were in a 3:00 sudden victory circumstance. She also blocked a Lions' 5-meter penalty shot in regulation play.
Donia Momen, who scored seven times in the two Spartan wins, had a single-match personal best five goals in regulation play to lead all players in scoring. Lekness also finished the day with seven goals raising her season total to a team-best 59.
Klaudia Paradi's goal in the first overtime stanza/fifth period was San Jose State's other score in the win over Loyola Marymount.
The Spartans conclude their play in the ZUMO LMU Invitational with matches against #25-Cal State Northridge at 9:15 a.m. and Azusa Pacific at 2:15 p.m. on March 19.
ZUMO LMU Invitational women's water polo tournament
Burns Aquatic Center, Los Angeles, Calif.
March 18, 2016
| Game 6 - Score by Periods | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT1 | OT2 | SV1 | SV2 | SV3 | Total |
| #11-San José State (11-10) | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 10 |
| #14-Loyola Marymount (7-14) | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
Goal scoring
San Jose State --Donia Momen, 5; Rae Lekness, 3; Klaudia Paradi, McKenna Yates, 1, each.
Loyola Marymount -- Ashtynn Nelson, Hana Vilanova, 3, each; Caitlin Shafer, Bridgette Alvarez, Emily Byrne, 1, each.
Goalkeeper saves
San Jose State --Alicia Magliocco, 7.
Loyola Marymount -- Sky Flores, 15.
Ejections
San Jose State -- 12.
Loyola Marymount -- 8.
| Game 2 - Score By Quarters | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| #11-San José State (10-10) | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 14 |
| Whittier (12-4) | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
Goal scoring
San Jose State -- Rae Lekness, 4; McKenna Yates, Carla Toha Vilanova, 3, each; Donia Momen, 2; Klaudia Paradi, Giuliana Tragitt, 1, each
Whittier -- Cynthia Castillo, 2; Isabella Gorrocino, Jasmine Villalpando, Angelica Hernandez, Anatascia Gonzalez, 1, each.
Goalkeeper saves
San Jose State -- Tayler Peters (1 quarter), 1; Alicia Magliocco (3 quarters), 11.
Whittier -- Caitlin Bronzan, 8.
Ejections
San Jose State -- 4.
Whittier -- 6.