Santa Clara, Calif.----- San Jose State University played its best defensive match of the season in a 9-4 win over Santa Clara University in a non-conference men's water polo match.
The four goals allowed by the Spartans (1-4) in the win were a season low by San Jose State after giving up no fewer than 11 in their first four matches.
"We played much better defense today. We were able to do some of the things (defensively) that we've been working on. It was a great team effort and it was nice to get our first win of the year," said San Jose State men's water polo head coach Bruce Watson.
Perhaps, the key point in the match came midway in the first quarter with the Spartans leading, 2-1. San Jose State All-American goalkeeper Yahav Fire making his season debut stopped a 5-meter penalty shot attempt by Santa Clara's Matt Peterson.
Santa Clara (1-1), which edged the Spartans, 11-10, five days earlier also trailed, 3-2, but never got closer the rest of the match.
Fire was credited with five saves in the win. San Jose State's defense also was effective allowing only three scores on 15 power-play opportunities.
Finn Pardon, Mark Kis, and Ary Kamen of the Spartans shared match-high scoring honors with two each. Gal Haimovich, Niels Hofmeijer, joined Pardon, Kis, Kamen and MacMillan in the San Jose State scoring column.
Santa Clara goalkeepers Sean Tehaney and Chase Zamborelli were credited with six and five saves, respectively.
San Jose State's busy weekend continues on Saturday, March 6, hosting a Golden Coast Conference doubleheader against #5-Pepperdine (9-2, 2-0 GCC). Matches are at 10:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. A third conference contest is on Sunday, March 7, at Noon. All three matches are at the SRAC on the San Jose State campus. Per county guidelines, no spectators will be allowed to watch the match.
San Jose State University men's water polo
San Jose State at Santa Clara
Sullivan Aquatic Complex, Santa Clara, Calif.
March 5, 2021
| Score by quarters | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| San Jose State (1-4) | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 9 |
| Santa Clara (1-1) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| Goal scoring |
| San José State – Finn Pardon, Mark Kis, Ary Kamen, 2, each; Connor MacMillan, Gal Haimovich, Niels Hofmeijer, 1, each. |
| Santa Clara – Matt Peterson, Nicky Fontes, Dominck Kirk, Matt McKim, 1, each. |
| Goalkeeper saves |
| San Jose State – Yahav Fire, 5. |
| Santa Clara – Sean Tehaney (16:00), 6; Chase Zamborelli (16:00), 5. |
| Ejections |
| San Jose State – 16. |
| Santa Clara – 8. |