April 22, 2018
Saratoga, Calif.----- For the first time in 10 years, the San Jose State University women's water polo team limited Stanford University to less than 10 goals in a 9-2 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) women's water polo loss to close out the regular season.
The Spartans (9-17, 0-5 MPSF) were playing the #2 team in the weekly Collegiate Water Polo Association coaches poll for the third time in the last four weekends. Stanford (16-2, 3-2 MPSF) had posted a 15-4 non-conference victory over San Jose State in the January 2018 Cal Cup hosted by the University of California.
On a Senior Day, Spartans Katelynn Thompson, Tayler Peters, Klaudia Paradi, Jordan Milich-Misikini, Jennifer Liu and Vanessa Elgohary, were honored before the match.
It was goalkeepers Peters anchoring the defense in the first half and Thompson taking it the rest of the way. Peters, fifth on the school's career saves list, was credited with five saves in her 16 minutes and Thompson, third on the same San Jose State career list, stopped seven shots. Both goalkeepers faced point-blank shots at the cage and came with emotional stops during the match.
"We made them work for the win playing better defense. Our offense started out slow. We made them work for their goals which was better than last time," said Peters in reference to the loss at the Cal Cup.
Sheila Jensen on a second-quarter power play and Tessa Draper in the final minute of the match scored for the Spartans. For Jensen, it was her 23rd of the season and the first in 2018 for Draper.
"We had a great effort. Obviously, it was Senior Day for us. Every single player played their heart out and tried to play their best not only for themselves, but for the senior class. I thought the senior class led and everyone else followed. I was very happy with our intensity in the game," said San Jose State women's water polo head coach Gabor Sarusi.
"Today was a great day for us. We came together as a real unit and we wanted to give a strong game against Stanford because we go into MPSF against them. It was a good eye-opening game for us. We put in a solid effort getting up and down the pool and stopping them on defense. We had real good defense on them in some points (of the match)," said New Zealand native Milich-Misikini.
Sisters Makenzie and Aria Fischer combined to score eight of the Cardinal's nine goals. Makenzie Fischer had five including the last three for Stanford. Aria Fischer scored three times. Katie Dudley accounted for Stanford's other goal.
Julia Hermann turned away 10 San Jose State shots on goal for the Cardinal.
These teams meet again on Friday, April 27, at 11:00 a.m., in the first match of the MPSF Championship Tournament hosted by the University of California at the Spieker Aquatics Complex.
San Jose State University women's water polo
#19-San Jose State vs. #2-Stanford
West Valley College Aquatics Complex, Saratoga, Calif.
April 22, 2018 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation match
| Score by quarters | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| #2-Stanford (16-2, 3-2 MPSF) | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 9 |
| #19-San Jose State (9-17, 0-5 MPSF) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Goal scoring |
| Stanford -- Makenzie Fischer, 5, Aria Fischer, 3. Katie Dudley, 1. |
| San Jose State -- Sheila Jensen, Tessa Draper, 1, each. |
| Goalkeeper saves |
| Stanford -- Julia Hermann -- 10. |
| San Jose State -- Tayler Peters (16 minutes), 5 saves; Katelynn Thompson, (16 minutes), 7 saves. |
| Ejections |
| Stanford -- 8. |
| San Jose State -- 10. |