Lindsey Boyd (@lindsboyd3):
The San Jose State Men’s water polo (1-1) went back and forth with No. 9 UC Davis (4-2) to start the match, but Davis scored five more times than SJSU in the second half, losing 11-5.
The match was tied 3-3 with over two minutes remaining in the first quarter when Aggie junior utility Riley Venne scored in the last minute of the quarter. The Spartans never recovered.
Four of the Spartan’s five goals were scored off of six-on-five power plays. One point by junior driver Cade Baldridge came from six-on-six play. In comparison, the Aggies scored nine points when all 12 players were in the game.
Freshman driver Justin Pickering converted on two power plays, one in the second and third period, while freshman Jacob Mercep and sophomore two-meter Finn Pardon took advantage of the power play in the first.
The Spartans were held scoreless in the fourth quarter and only had Pickering’s goal in the third.
Sophomore goalie TJ Palmer blocked 10 shots, but Davis’s Venne, junior utility Ido Goldschmidt, sophomore attacker Yuri Hanley and junior attacker Marcus Anderson each got two goals past him.
The Spartans tried twice to convert off of sprints, but Aggie freshman goalie Jonah Addington saved both attempts.
SJSU will return to Davis to compete in the Aggie Shootout next weekend.
On Sept. 16 the Spartans play No. 8 Pepperdine 9 a.m. and Whittier at 2 p.m.
The following day they will meet meet Santa Clara again at 9 a.m. and Pacific at 1:30 pm.
Both Pepperdine and Pacific are part of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Conference.