March 12, 2017
San Diego, Calif.----- For the second consecutive day, the San Jose State University women's water polo team split a pair of matches at the Aztec Invitational hosted by San Diego State University.
The #12-ranked Spartans (8-13) defeated unranked Whittier College, 9-7, after losing their morning match, 5-4, to #19 Wagner. San Jose State finished 2-2 in its four Aztec Invitational matches.
"We saw a lot of different styles of play (this weekend) and that was good for us to see," said San Jose State head coach Gabor Sarusi.
Carla Toha Vilanova and Klaudia Paradi scored seven of the team's nine goals in the win over the Poets. The Spartans did not take a lead until Paradi's third and final goal of the match with 1:00 to go in the third quarter for a 7-6 advantage.
San Jose State scored the last four goals in the Whittier match. Toha Vilanova's third and fourth goals of the came in the third quarter and pulled the Spartans into a 6-6 tie before Paradi's go-ahead score. Tessa Draper and co-captain Cara Robinson added scores for a 9-6 lead with 3:59 remaining in the fourth quarter.
"Our counter attack and our defense on their power play was good," the Spartans coach said about the win. Whittier was 0-of-9 on power play chances. For the weekend, San Jose State yielded just three goals on 31 opponent power plays.
Tayler Peters started in goal for the Spartans and made eight saves in the first 29 minutes. Jessica Harris finished up for San Jose State and allowed the Poets' final goal.
In the Spartans' morning contest, Wagner's Kimberly Watson scored her fourth goal of the match with 1:37 remaining in the fourth quarter for the Seahawks' 5-4 win over San Jose State. The Spartans never led in the contest.
The match's high scorer, Watson scored on each of her four shot attempts. The loss was San Jose State's third consecutive match decided by a goal. The Spartans are 4-5 in one-goal matches this season.
McKenna Yates, Paradi, Donia Momen and Sheila Jensen scored in the loss to Wagner. Katelynn Thompson was credited with eight saves.
"It was a tough loss to Wagner. We committed too many offensive fouls," Sarusi said.
The Spartans play their final non-conference match of the season, Friday, March 17, hosting Harvard, at the West Valley College Aquatic Center in nearby Saratoga, Calif. Match time is 6:00 p.m.
Aztec Invitational women's water polo tournament.
Aztec Aquaplex, San Diego, Calif.
March 12, 2017
| Match 15 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Whittier (7-9) | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 7 |
| #12-San Jose State (8-13) | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 9 |
| Goal Scoring |
| Whittier -- Isabella Gorrocino, 3; Anastacia Gonzalez, 2; Kendyl Riley, Jenel Rivera, 1, each. |
| San Jose State -- Carla Toha Vilanova, 4; Klaudia Paradi, 3, Cara Robinson, Tessa Draper, 1, each. |
| Goalkeeper Saves |
| Whittier -- Katia Montoya, 6 |
| San Jose State -- Tayler Peters, 29 minutes, 8. Jessica Harris, 3 minutes, 0. |
| Ejections |
| Whittier -- 4. |
| San Jose State -- 9. |
| Match 9 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| #19-Wagner (9-9) | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| #12-San Jose State (7-13) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| Goal scoring |
| Wagner -- Kimberly Watson, 4; Erica Hardy, 1. |
| San Jose State -- McKenna Yates, Klaudia Paradi, Donia Momen, Sheila Jensen, 1, each. |
| Goalkeeper saves |
| Wagner -- Emily Riddle, 5. |
| San Jose State -- Katelynn Thompson, 8. |
| Ejections |
| Wagner -- 4. |
| San Jose State -- 6. |