April 3, 2016
Los Angeles, Calif.----- San Jose State University's women's water polo team set a school single-match team scoring record in a 28-8 non-conference win over the University of Redlands in the nightcap of its doubleheader sweep in the Bruin Invite.
The #11-ranked Spartans (15-12) completed a sweep of the day with a 16-4 triumph over Pomona Pitzer en route to scoring 44 goals in their two victories.
San Jose State's previous single-match record was 22 goals scored three times. The most recent was in a 2014 win over Concordia of Irvine.
Eleven of the 14 Spartan field players scored against Redlands. Sierra Painter with four and Cara Robinson, Molly Kaster and Michelle Taikeff with three each had a personal single-match, season-scoring high against Redlands.
"Our younger players got a lot of good experience," San Jose State head coach Johnny Bega said about the doubleheader sweep. In the Redlands win, most of the starters played no more than two quarters. Still, Bega had the April 2 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation 13-6 loss to #2-UCLA on his mind.
"We didn't get the win we wanted. We didn't get the start we wanted (against UCLA). If we don't get a better start, it's hard to dig yourself out of a hole especially against very good teams," he said about falling behind UCLA, 5-1 after a quarter, compared to seven-goal first-quarter leads against Pomona-Pitzer and Redlands. "The next three quarters we played well."
Rae Lekness and Carla Toha Vilanova also scored four times in the Redlands win. Lekness finished the day with eight goals increasing her season total to a personal high 80. The senior from Calgary finished the day in fourth place on the MPSF scoring list with 276 goals.
Eight San Jose State players scored in the 16-4 win over Pomona Pitzer. The Spartans led 7-0 after the first quarter and were never threatened. Goalkeeper Tayler Peters was credited with five saves against Pomona Pitzer and six against Redlands.
San Jose State returns to action, Saturday, April 9, hosting Arizona State and Cal State Monterey Bay at The Aquatics Center. Senior Day festivities for Lekness, co-captain Kelli Leabo and Brittany Krappe will take place prior to the 11:00 a.m. MPSF match with Arizona State. The Spartans close out the day with Cal State Monterey Bay at 5:00 p.m. There is no admission charge and parking is available a block away at the 7th Street garage.
San Jose State University Women's Water Polo
Bruin Invite
Spieker Aquatics Complex, Los Angeles, Calif.
April 3, 2016
Match 1 Score by Quarters
Pomona Pitzer (8-13) 0-2-2-0=4
San Jose State (14-12) 7-1-4-4=16
Goal scoring
Pomona Pitzer â€" Samantha Martinez, 2; Nohea Kahaulelio, Anna, Yu, 1, each.
San José State â€" Rae Lekness, 4; Kelli Leabo, Klaudia Paradi, Cara Robinson, Sheila Jensen, Sierra Painter, 2, each; McKenna Yates, Michelle Taikeff, 1, each.
Goalkeeper saves
Pomona Pitzer â€" Ahsha Earwood (3 quarters), 6; Megan Stockham (1 quarter), 4.
San José State â€" Tayler Peters, 5.
Ejections
Pomona Pitzer â€" 6.
San José State â€" 9.
Match 2 Score by Quarters
Redlands (5-20) 2-2-3-1=8
San Jose State (15-12) 9-9-5-5=28
Goal scoring
Redlands â€" Rachel Haney, 3; Annie Kinney, Caitlyn Freeman, Michelle Na, Sami Walker, Kolby Kahahawai, 1, each.
San José State â€" Rae Lekness, Sierra Painter, Carla Toha Vilanova, 4, each; Cara Robinson, Molly Kaster, Michelle Taikeff, 3, each; Donia Momen, Sheila Jensen, 2, each; McKenna Yates, Morgan Jones, Brittany Krappe, 1, each.
Goalkeeper saves
Redlands â€" A.C. Lopez (2 quarters), 3; Kelly Grosswendt (2 quarters), 2.
San José State â€" Tayler Peters, 6.
Ejections
Redlands â€" 9.
San José State â€" 13.