SAN JOSE, Calif. – The No. 1 Santa Barbara City College Women’s Water Polo team (16-4, 4-0) played a competitive doubleheader at San Jose State on Friday afternoon.

Despite the results, it was a big day for the Vaqueros; not many 3C2A programs get invited to play against Division I programs at their facility.

“This was an amazing day for us,” Head Coach Chuckie Roth said. “We’re really grateful to San Jose State for giving us the opportunity and so proud of our girls for how we competed today.”

San Jose State 14, Santa Barbara 8

The Vaqueros were the first to score, through Julia Joseph. They almost took a 2-0 lead if it wasn’t for a great save from the Division I goalie one-on-one, just barely tipped off the crossbar. Santa Barbara then survived their first six-on-five, but conceded on the second. Reigning Western State Conference Athlete of the Month Olivia Spieth restored the lead, 2-1, at the end of the first quarter.

San Jose State scored early in the second, but Spieth made it 3-2 soon after. In what was a defensive first half, the Spartans scored twice more before Larsen Jensen tied it from long distance as the shot clock was winding down. It was 4-4 at halftime.

Three early goals out of the break gave San Jose State a 7-4 advantage. Luciana Grooms got a goal back on a smart shot, and Sophie McGehee‘s five-meter made it 7-6. Goalie Ava Barclay then made a great steal, and the Vaqueros called timeout with a six-on-five opportunity to tie the game.

Unfortunately, the Spartans got a stop, and one more goal towards the end of the quarter gave them an 8-6 lead heading into the final frame.

Riley Olney nearly had a great save on an early five-meter in the fourth, but it trickled into the cage. Two more Spartan goals in quick succession gave them a commanding 11-6 lead, but the Vaqueros kept fighting.

Joseph earned a five-meter that Jensen confidently scored. Tessa Hidalgo also found the net on a well-worked team move—with an assist from Spieth, who leads the 3C2A in the category. Ultimately, San Jose State found enough of an offensive rhythm to win the first game 14-8.

San Jose State 23, Santa Barbara 7

Riley Granzella got the first goal in game two. San Jose State scored twice on their ensuing possessions before a brilliant steal by Hidalgo to prevent a third. Catalina Marian scored a deflected long-range goal for the Vaqueros’ second, and McGehee’s five-meter was the third. But the Spartans continued their offensive momentum from the end of game one; they held a 7-3 lead after the first quarter.

As the Spartans kept scoring in the second, the Vaqueros played well in possession against their Division I opponents. Grooms converted a six-on-four, and Hildago scored a skip shot late in the half. It was 12-5 at the break.

Olney made a handful of great saves to keep San Jose State scoreless midway through. As the shot clock buzzer went off, Spieth scored a beautiful lob shot that perfectly scraped the crossbar as it came down. The third quarter ended 16-6.

Santa Barbara rounded out the day with a goal from Penelope Nelson as game two’s score was 23-7 Spartans.

“We had a lot of great learning moments,” Roth said, “and obviously [San Jose State is] a good team. It allowed us to be challenged and think under pressure, and it helped us become a better team today.”

The experience gained will surely help the Vaqueros against their 3C2A opponents, maybe even as early as Saturday—tomorrow, at the time of publication. The Vaqueros have a tough test against No. 4 Orange Coast (9-3) and conference foe Bakersfield (4-14, 2-2) at the Ventura Tournament hosted at the Ventura Aquatic Center.