March 16, 2018
Los Angeles, Calif.----- The San Jose State University women's water polo team had its best day of the season on the opening day of the LMU Invitational.
The #21-ranked Spartans (7-11) have their first three-match winning streak of the season after defeating host #11-ranked LMU (11-11), 8-7 in sudden victory overtime, and Fresno Pacific, 9-6. San Jose State came into the two-day tournament with a win over Wagner from the Harvard Invitational on March 4.
The win over LMU to open the Invitational was the Spartans' first victory this season over an opponent ranked in the top-15 of the weekly national coaches poll and first triumph in three extra-period contests. San Jose State raced out a 6-1 lead in the second quarter, lost its lead and trailed 7-6 before Caroline Kerwin's second score of the contest with 1:22 remaining in the fourth quarter sent the match into overtime.
Neither team scored in the two 3:00 overtime periods and in the first 3:00 sudden victory overtime period. Jordan Milich-Misikini put the Spartans in the victory column with 0:26 to go in the second sudden victory overtime period on her second even-strength goal of the match off of a counter attack.
"I slid into 6-7 meters and shot a skip shot," said Milich-Misikini whose shot went past LMU goalkeeper Claire Wright's right side.
Sheila Jensen and Guara Garcia Delgado also scored twice for San Jose State in its first sudden victory overtime win since a 10-9 triumph over LMU in the 2016 Zumo LMU Invitational. That match went into the third 3:00 sudden victory before the match was decided.
"It (the LMU win) was very energizing and much needed," said San Jose State head coach Gabor Sarusi. "It showed we are in very good shape.
"We jumped on them early. We had a good game plan that we executed very well and then LMU came back."
Goalkeeper Tayler Peters was credited with 10 saves in the win.
"It was a huge confidence booster for our team," Milich-Misikini added about the victory.
The Spartans extended their streak of keeping opponents to less than nine goals to nine matches with its 9-6 victory over Fresno Pacific. San Jose State did not allow Fresno State score on eight power play chances. Goalkeeper Shannon Spence had a single-match career-high 10 saves in the win.
Klaudia Paradi and Tyanna Supreme led the Spartans in scoring with three goals each. Vanessa Elgohary with two and one by Natalie Hosmer rounded out the scoring for San Jose State which led the entire contest.
San Jose State concludes play in the LMU Invitational with matches on March 17 vs. #23-Marist and #9-Michigan. At the Stanford Invitational in early February, the Spartans lost to Michigan, 14-3.
Live scoring for the Marist and Michigan matches is available at www.thefosh.net.
LMU Invitational women's water polo tournament Burns Aquatic Center, Los Angeles, Calif. March 16, 2018
| Match #1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1st-OT | 2nd-OT | SV | SV | Total |
| #21-San Jose State (6-11) | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 |
| #11-LMU (11-11) | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Goal scoring |
| San Jose State - Sheila Jensen, Guara Garcia Delgado, Caroline Kerwin, Jordan Milich-Misikini, 2, each. |
| LMU -- Abbey Grose, Hana Vilanova, 3, each. Daniela Hernandez, 1. |
| Goalkeeper saves |
| San Jose State -- Tayler Peters, 10. |
| LMU - Claire Wright, 7. |
| Ejections |
| San Jose State -- 8. |
| LMU -- 10. |
| Match 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | TOTAL |
| #21-San Jose State (7-11) | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 9 |
| Fresno Pacific (8-10) | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 6 |
| Goal scoring |
| San Jose State -- Tyanna Supreme, Klaudia Paradi, 3, each; Vanessa Elgohary, 2; Natalie Hosmer, 1. |
| Fresno Pacific -- Hannah Holly, 2; Julia Ponce, Jenna Collins, Emily Knowles, Sam Witt, 1, each. |
| Goalkeeper saves |
| San Jose State -- Shannon Spence 10. |
| Fresno Pacific -- Madeline Frey, 11. |
| Ejections |
| San Jose State - 8. |
| Fresno Pacific -- 5. |