Santa Clara, Calif.----- Junior Olga Descalzi Portell scored five of her single-match career-high six goals in the first half as San Jose State University picked up its first women's water polo win of the season in a 17-7 non-conference victory over Santa Clara.
Overcoming an early 1-0 deficit, Descalzi Portell put the Spartans (1-2) ahead to stay, 2-1, at 5:53 of the first quarter on a San Jose State power play. The Spartans would score 10 unanswered goals to lead, 10-1, until Malena Nguyen converted a 5-meter penalty shot at 7:30 of the third quarter. Descalzi Portell scored for San Jose State on the Spartans' next possession for her final goal of the morning, an 11-2 advantage and ignited a 5-0 goal-scoring spree.
Sierra Painter matched her single-contest best four goals including three in the third quarter on three consecutive possessions. Lior Ben David and Tyanna Supreme each scored twice giving San Jose State four multiple-goal scorers in the win.
"We cut down on our turnovers today and we were in position to execute our plays. It was a good team effort," said San Jose State women's water polo head coach Beth Harberts. "After the UC Davis game, we realized we didn't finish our power plays. "We were able to connect today and were well balanced on offense and defense."
Going 5-of-6 on the power play, San Jose State led by as many as 12 goals on three occasions.
Hannah Henry only needed to make one save playing only in the first half. Elaina Davey was in goal for San Jose State in the second half and was credited with four stops.
Mia Battilega led Santa Clara (0-2) in scoring with three.
The Spartans return to action Saturday, March 13, facing Stanford in a non-conference contest at the Avery Aquatic Complex on the Stanford campus.
San Jose State University
Women's Water Polo
#15-San Jose State at Santa Clara
Sullivan Aquatic Complex
Non-conference contest
March 7, 2021
| Score bu Quarters | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| #15-San Jose State (1-2) | 4 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 17 |
| Santa Clara (0-2) | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 7 |
| Scoring summary |
| San Jose State – Olga Descalzi Portell, 6; Sierra Painter, 4, Lior Ben David, Tyanna Supreme, 2, each; Clarissa Wandinger, Ryann Luchessi, Riley Agerbeek, 1, each. |
| Santa Clara - Mia Battilega, 3; Malena Nguyen, 2; Abby Fleming, Kelly Frumkin, 1, each. |
| Goalkeeper saves |
| San Jose State – Hannah Henry, 5; Elaina Davey, 4. |
| Santa Clara – Grace Kavanaugh, 1; Alexa Grau, 1; Liyara Sendaheera, 2. |
| Ejections |
| San Jose State – 12. |
| Santa Clara – 7. |