Finn Pardon scored four goals on just five shots for #8-ranked San Jose State University in a 17-8 non-conference men's water polo win over Santa Clara University.
The Spartans completed a doubleheader sweep on Senior Day defeating Cuesta College, 10-8, in an exhibition contest.
San Jose State's win over the Broncos was their second in eight days. On March 5, San Jose State (3-6) topped Santa Clara, 9-4, at the Sullivan Aquatic Complex in Santa Clara.
The Spartans' 17 goals were a season high for the team and the most scored by San Jose State in a match since a 17-6 win over Ottawa College on September 22, 2019.
San Jose State never trailed in the match and took the lead for the remainder of the game on a six-goal outburst that broke a 1-1 tie over an 11:48 span from midway in the first quarter to just before halftime. Thanks to a season-high third-quarter scores, the Spartans had four 11-goal leads in the second half in their final match of the 2020-21 abbreviated spring season.
Pardon was one seven multi-goal scorers for San Jose State. Mark Kis, Utku Karhan, Gal Haimovich, Neil Arnett, Ben Hauschild, and Ethan Koch found the cage twice for the Spartans. Neils Hofmeijer accounted for the other San Jose State goal. Pardon and Hauschild were the two seniors recognized before the match.
Spartan starting goalkeeper Yahav Fire extinguished seven Santa Clara shots on goals including a second-quarter Bronco 5-meter penalty shot.
"It was a good finish to the regular season. The guys, in a short period of time, have really improved as you can tell by our scores with Santa Clara. We had a loss, beat them by five and beat them by nine..," said San Jose State men's water polo head coach Bruce Watson. "It's the best we've played all spring. It was real encouraging and the guys are excited to see the positive results and what we've been asking them to do."
The Spartans converted a season-best 56.7 percent of their shots and were 6-for-8 on their 6-on-5 power plays. Santa Clara was 2-of-11 on its power play.
In its afternoon match, San Jose State broke a 5-5 tie with Cuesta College in the third quarter on a pair of even strength goals by Utku Karhan and Ethan Koch. Cuesta College cut the lead to a single goal twice after that, but could never pull even the rest of the way.
On his first day back in action, Nick Marchione led the Spartans in goal scoring with a pair. Eight more San Jose State players scored one apiece.
Mason Smith and Noah Pendleton shared the Spartan goalkeeping duties. Smith started and played the first half allowing five goals while making two saves. Pendleton had one save in the second half.
San Jose State University men's water polo
#8-San Jose State vs. Santa Clara
Student Recreation & Aquatics Center, San Jose, Calif.
March 13, 2021
Non-conference match
| Score by quarters |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| Santa Clara (1-2) |
1 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
8 |
| #8-San Jose State (3-6) |
3 |
4 |
8 |
2 |
17 |
| Goal scoring |
| Santa Clara – Billy Berry, Matt Sowers, 2, each; Matt Peterson, Blake D'Souza, Thomas Lennox, Michael Kreienkamp, 1, each. |
| San Jose State – Finn Pardon, 4, Mark Kis, Utku Karhan, Gal Haimovich, Neil Arnett, Ben Hauschild, Ethan Koch, 2, each; Neils Hofmeijer, 1. |
| Goalkeeper saves |
| Santa Clara – Sean Tehaney (16:00), 2; Chase Zamborelli (16:00), 4. |
| San Jose State – Yahav Fire (24:00), 7; Mason Smith (8:00), 2. |
| Ejections |
| Santa Clara - 14 |
| San Jose State – 10 |
San Jose State University men's water polo
#8-San Jose State vs. Cuesta College
Student Recreation & Aquatics Center, San Jose, Calif.
March 13, 2021
Exhibition contest
| Score by quarters |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| Cuesta College |
3 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
8 |
| #8-San Jose State |
2 |
2 |
4 |
2 |
10 |
| Goal scoring |
| Cuesta – Jacob Sill, Joshua Halopoff, 2, each; Eron Ray, Aleksa Sisikovic, Kiran Heidler, Owen Brumlit, 1, each. |
| San Jose State – Nick Marchione, 2; Finn Pardon, Connor MacMillan, Oliver Grant, Utku Karhan, Gal Haimovich, Etan Koch, Jacob Hatch, Mateo Lema, 1. |
| Goalkeeper saves |
| Cuesta – Colton Boyd (16:00), 1; Garrett Wilson (16:00), 5. |
| San Jose State – Mason Smith (24:00), 2; Noah Pendleton (16:00), 1. |
| Ejections |
| Cuesta - 8 |
| San Jose State - 14 |
