By Lindsey Boyd (@lindsboyd3):
San Jose State water polo (6-5) closed the Mountain Pacific Invitational with a 9-6 win over Air Force (2-8). The Spartans were two for four in the tournament, losing to No. 2 University of Southern California 18-9 and No. 7 UC Santa Barbara 13-12.
Freshman Jacob Mercep had another high scoring game with four goals against Air Force, totaling 22 goals in the last four games. Out of the eleven games this season, he’s had a four games of six points.
Despite losing the first sprint to sophomore attacker Michael Miller, sophomore 2-Meter Finn Pardon drew an exclusion on senior center Garrett Fisk, allowing Mercep to score the first shot. From there, the Spartans went on a 5-0 run in the first.
Starters Sophomore driver Ashley Castle, Sophomore driver Ben Hauschild, Pardon and Mercep all scored at least one goal against Air Force. Freshman 2-Meter Luka Cupic added a goal off the bench.
Hauschild led the team with eight assists and Sophomore goalie Todd Palmer had one of the highest save percentages of the season with 70 percent.
The Falcons came back 5-3 in the second and were one point shy of tying the Spartans 7-6 in the third. Air Force was scoreless in the fourth, allowing SJSU to win 9-6.
The Spartans will take on No. 3 Stanford next Saturday, Sept. 30 at 11:00 a.m. at Stanford.