Los Angeles, Calif.----- San Jose State University played one of its best halves of defense this season against #1-ranked University of Southern California, but Trojans' strong first quarter was enough to top the Spartans, 11-5, in a Mountain Pacific Sports Federation women's water polo match.
The Spartans (1-6, 0-3 MPSF) limited the Trojans to only two goals in the second half and kept USC (9-0, 3-0 MPSF) off the scoreboard in the final quarter. The last time San Jose State blanked USC for an entire quarter was on March 26, 2016 in the second quarter of an 11-6 MPSF loss.
Olga Descalzi Portell was the Spartans' top scorer converting a pair of third-quarter 5-meter penalty shots. Emma Hank, Clarissa Wandinger and Sophie Spivack with her first of the season also scored for San Jose State.
Hank and Spivack's scores came on power plays, but the Spartans only were 2-of-10 as a team. San Jose State did not score on its first five power play opportunities until Hank's goal at 6:12 of the second quarter to cut the deficit to 4-1. USC jumped out to a 4-0 first-quarter lead.
The Spartans power play defense was effective through the contest limiting the Trojans to two scores on seven chances.
With a season-high five goals, USC's Grace Tehaney led all players in scoring. Denise Mammolito was a second multi-goal scorer for the Trojans with a pair.
Elaina Davey made her first start of the season in goal for San Jose State. She was credited with five saves. USC goalkeeper Hannah Parker stopped 10 shots.
The two teams conclude a weekend conference series on Sunday, March 28, at the Uytengsu Aquatics Center. The opening sprint is at 11:00 a.m. and the match will be streamed on USC Live Stream-2.
San Jose State University women's water polo
#17-San Jose State vs. #1-USC
Uytengsu Aquatics Center, Los Angeles, Calif.
March 27, 2021
Mountain Pacific Sports Federation match
| Score by quarters |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| #17-San Jose State (1-6, 0-3 MPSF) |
0 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
5 |
| #1-USC (9-0, 3-0 MPSF) |
4 |
5 |
2 |
0 |
11 |
| Goal scoring |
| San Jose State – Olga Descalzi Portell, 2; Emma Hank, Clarissa Wandinger, Sophie Spivack, 1, each. |
| USC – Grace Tehaney, 5; Denise Mammolito, 2; Mireia Guiral, Bayley Weber, Sabrina Garabet, Hannah Meyer, 1, each. |
| Goalkeeper saves |
| San Jose State – Elaina Davey, 5. |
| USC – Hannah Parker, 10. |
| Ejections |
| San Jose State – 8. |
| USC – 12. |
