SAN JOSE – The No. 7 Fresno State water polo team (13-7, 5-0 GCC) defeated No. 20 San Jose State 7-6 at the SRAC Pool in San Jose on Sunday morning, earning its ninth-straight win. The game was a back-and-forth battle with a third quarter that would prove to be the difference for the Bulldogs.
Hailey Andress, Brooke Ochoa and Daphne Guevremont led Fresno State with two goals each. Kaitlin Howarth added an additional goal for the 'Dogs. In the cage, keeper Paula Nieto Jasny recorded five saves and six steals.
Fresno State's defense held San Jose State to just 6-of-21 on its scoring attempts, and kept the Spartans from scoring on any power play opportunities (0-of-8).
How it happened
San Jose State got out to an early 1-0 lead, but the 'Dogs answered back with goals from Guevremont and Ochoa within one minute of each other to take the early lead. SJSU would even the score with 1:50 left in the first quarter.
Scoring slowed, but it was the Spartans who struck for the lead at the 3:39 mark of the second quarter. Andress scored her first on a 6-on-5 advantage with 2:05 left in the quarter. It took SJSU just 17 seconds to respond, and retake a 4-3 lead into halftime.
The third quarter saw the Bulldogs outscoring the Spartans 3-0 in the period. Fresno State had four steals in the quarter to maintain an offensive possession. Ochoa scored early on a counter attack to tie the game at four with 6:52 remaining in the quarter. Andress fired in another, and Guevremont converted a penalty shot to extend Fresno State's lead to two, 6-4.
Scoring was thin in the fourth as Howarth scored the first goal for either team with 2:52 left in the game. SJSU would add two goals, one in the final second, but it was not enough to erase the deficit.
Up Next
Fresno State will honor its senior class next Saturday, April 1 as the 'Dogs close out their regular season home slate against LMU at noon. Admission to the Aquatics Center is free.