Oct. 21, 2017
San Jose, Calif.--- The San José State University men's water polo team (11-8) is 2-0 in the Julian Fraser Memorial Tournament. The team picked up a 14-9 win over #18 Cal Baptist, and a 16-14 win over #15 Harvard. This is the first time the team has reached double digit wins since the program's return in 2015.
Jacob Mercep is the current point leader in the tournament with a total of 14 points. He has accumulated 10 goals with four assists through the two games. The freshman leads the Golden Coast Conference with 87 points, and 69 goals through 18 games.
#11 San JoséState 14 vs #18 Cal Baptist 9
The Spartans got off to a hot start in the first period gaining a 7-2 lead over the Lancers. Jacob Mercep racked up six goals, two assists, and two steals in the 14-9 win over Cal Baptist.
Ashley Castle and Ben Hauschild combined for seven steals in the game. Castle scored his first hat-trick of the season in the match. Hauschild had four assists in the contest, and is leading the tournament with a total of five assists.
TJ Palmer had 10 saves, to pick up his eighth win of the season.
#11 San JoséState 16 vs #15 Harvard 14
Four goals from Jacob Mercep and Bendeguz Toth seal the win for the Spartans.
A pair of goals from Luka Cupic, Finn Pardon, and Ben Hauschild edge out Harvard in the Spartans second game of the tournament.
Ben Hauschild had five steals in the game, and has a total of nine in the tournament. This season he is second in the GCC in steals with 45.
TJ Palmer had six saves, and two steals in the tournament. The goal keeper is 5-1 in his last six matches.
The Spartans finish the final two games of the Julian Fraser Memorial Tournament tomorrow against Wagner at 9:00 a.m., and Loyola Marymount at 1:00 p.m.