Arizona State, San Jose State Sweep Invitationals
March 17, 2014
MPSF Women's Water Polo Release 10
SAN JOSE STATE (17-9 Overall, 0-2 MPSF) freshman Clara Espar Llaquet continues to have an outstanding first year. She accumulated 16 goals in four wins at the San Diego State Aztec Invitational, topping out with a career-high six against Wagner, a 17-7 win. SJSU also knocked off Harvard, 20-1, Bucknell, 17-4, and previously undefeated and No. 8 Princeton, 10-6. Espar Llaquet has scored in all 26 games of her Spartan career, and is the third Spartan all-time to reach 80 goals in a season, which is also tied for 18th in MPSF single-season history.
ARIZONA STATE (13-6 Overall, 1-2 MPSF) had no trouble in its own invitational this past week, allowing a total of six goals through four wins. The Sun Devils beat Marist 14-1, Occidental 16-1, Whittier 20-1, and in an MPSF game, Bakersfield, 14-3. Petra Pardi scored 12 goals in three games, logging three or more goals on three separate occasions. She scored four goals against the Roadrunners and five more against Occidental, giving her five games in her career of scoring at least five, matching the ASU school record.
USC (15-0 Overall, 3-0 MPSF) extended its win streak to 22 straight dating back to last year's NCAA title run with a 12-7 outcome over California, also staying unbeaten in MPSF. Goalkeeper Flora Bolonyai held the Bears to about six goals under their average, while stopping 12 shots, including four in succession over a third quarter shutout. Ioanna Haralabidis scored twice to reach 21 goals in her freshman year.
CALIFORNIA (15-4 Overall, 1-1 MPSF) posted a 9-5 win at Loyola Marymount this past Sunday, behind a four-goal effort from freshman Anna Illes. She totaled seven goals for the trip, coupled with a hat trick at USC. The Bears host Bakersfield Sunday (Mar. 23) in another MPSF game.
BAKERSFIELD (12-16 Overall, 0-2 MPSF) won three of five at the ASU Invitational, defeating Occidental 19-9, Azusa Pacific 10-9 in overtime, and Whittier, 10-8. Three Roadrunners rank in the MPSF Top-25 in scoring; Kristen Jensen (1.61 GPG, 17th), Janelle Shelby (1.50 GPG, 19th), and Niki De Leon (1.39 GPG, 22nd).
UCLA (17-2 Overall, 1-0 MPSF) did not play last week, and returns to action at home Friday (Mar. 21) against Harvard. UCLA posted an 11-7 victory in its MPSF opener March 9 at home against Arizona State. Rachel Fattal scored a pair of goals, including a penalty, and recorded three assists, three steals and three earned exclusions.
STANFORD (13-1 Overall, 1-0 MPSF) routed Loyola Marymount and Fresno Pacific, 18-4 and 20-4 respectively in Fresno March 8, the previous piece of competition for the Cardinal. Maggie Steffens recorded five of her six goals on the day against the Lions. Ashley Grossman and Kiley Neushul each added hat tricks, before Jamie Neushul scored a game-high four goals against FPU. Stanford heads to UC San Diego and San Diego State Sunday and Monday (Mar. 23-24).