Jan. 13, 2018
Saratoga, Calif.----- Michelle Taikeff, Guara Garcia Delgado, Kathryn Elgin and Klaudia Paradi each scored a goal for San Jose State University in a 15-4 women's water polo exhibition loss to China's national women's team.
The Chinese team, many of whom played in the 2017 FINA Women's Intercontinental Tournament, jumped out to a 6-0 first quarter lead and was ahead 9-0 late in the second quarter before Taikeff became the first Spartan of the night to score.
Nine of the 13 Chinese players would score at least once in the match. Deng Zewen led all players with four.
San Jose State used three goalkeepers in its final tune-up before its January 20 season opener vs. Cal State East Bay in the fourth annual Lou Tully Memorial Invitational.
Katelynn Thompson started in goal and was credited with two first half saves. Tayler Peters stopped five Chinese shots in the third quarter when the visitors outscored the Spartans, 4-1, for the second straight period and a 14-2 advantage on the scoreboard. Shannon Spence made three saves in the fourth quarter for San Jose State.
After a very slow start offensively, the Spartans did force China goalkeepers Peng Lin and Shen Yineng to combine for seven saves.
The fourth annual Lou Tully Memorial Invitational will be a one-day, seven-match tournament with Stanford, UC Davis, Pacific, Cal State East Bay, China and host San Jose State. The Spartans-Cal State East Bay match is at 8:00 a.m. There is no admission charge. Parking on the West Valley College campus is $3.00 per vehicle.