San Jose, Calif.——#13 San Jose State lost 15-11 to #1 USC in a MPSF women's water polo match.
Tyanna Supreme was the top scorer for the Spartans with three goals. Two of her three goals were scored on a power play. The Spartans (5-11, 0-2 MPSF) had one of their better power plays of the season converting on 5-of-12 chances.
One-sided final scores in USC's favor had been common in recent meetings, the four-goal spread was the closest match the two teams have played since a 10-9 USC victory on March 29, 2014. San Jose State's Jacqui Maisey scored the first goal of the match giving the Spartans their only lead over USC. The Trojans scored three unanswered goals in the final 2:00 of the first quarter to build a 6-2 advantage going into the second quarter.
Olga Descalzi Portell scored twice in the second quarter, but USC again closed out a quarter strong with two goals in the final 1:26 for a 10-5 halftime lead.
The Spartans closed the deficit to three goals three times in the fourth quarter, but could get no closer. All three times came on power play scores, two by Supreme and one by Lili Urvari.
Supreme's power play goal on a skip shot with 1:18 left in the match gave San Jose State 11 goals against USC in a match for the first time since these teams began facing each other in women's water polo in 1997. The Spartans matched UC San Diego for the most goals scored against the #1-Trojans this season.
Spartan goalkeeper Hannah Henry was credited with nine saves, one on a penalty shot, and three steals.
Before the match, head coach Beth Harberts was presented a game ball signifying her first San Jose State coaching win from the 21-7 non-conference win over Sonoma State on January 18.
The Spartans will return to action Saturday, March 7, in another MPSF conference match hosting Arizona State at the SRAC. The match begins at 12:00 p.m.
#1-USC (12-1, 1-0 MPSF) 6 - 4 - 2 - 3 = 15
#13-San Jose State (5-11, 0-2 MPSF) 2 - 3 - 2 - 4 = 11
Scoring Summary
USC - Bayley Weber, Verica Bakoc, Kaylee Brownsberger, 3, each; Mireia Guiral, 2; Grace Tehaney, Denise Mammolito, Elise Stein, Sophia Lucas, 1, each.
San Jose State - Tyanna Supreme, 3; Jacqui Maisey, Lili Urvari, Olga Descalzi Portell, 2, each; Clarissa Wandinger, Zsofia Botka, 1, each.
Ejections
USC - 13.
San Jose State - 7.
Goalkeeper Saves
USC - Holly Parker, 9; Erin Tharp, 1.
San Jose State - Hannah Henry, 9.