SAN DIEGO – San Diego State water polo's Amanda Legaspi and Claudia Valdes have been recognized by the coaches of the Golden Coast Conference (GCC) with postseason honors for their play during the 2023 season. The announcement was made by the GCC office on Tuesday.
Legaspi, a senior attacker, was named a first-team All-GCC performer while freshman utility Valdes earned inclusion on the GCC All-Freshman Team.
In 2023, Legaspi, a graduate transfer from UC Santa Barbara, enjoyed the finest season of her college career. She set career highs for goals, shots, assists, points, exclusions drawn, steals and field blocks. Her .448 shot percentage was the team's highest, among players who attempted at least two shots per game. Her 51 exclusions drawn led the squad, while her 96 shots, 43 goals and 66 points rank second on the team and her 23 assists and 29 steals are the third most among the Aztecs this season.
Legaspi had eight hat tricks, which includes a single-game high five goals against California Baptist. She had a season-high three assists vs. No. 24 CSUN, among five games with multiple assists. In 15 contests she drew multiple exclusions, including a team-best six vs. No. 13 Princeton, and in nine other games, recorded multiple steals.
Valdes, a freshman utility from Madrid, Spain, was easily the most dominant freshman in the GCC in 2023. She led the Aztecs in shots (112), goals (49), points (81) and steals (40). Her 32 assists rank second on the team and 21 exclusions drawn were the third most among SDSU players.
Valdes was tied for the leading scorer among freshmen in the league and ranked No. 10 overall, while leading the entire GCC in steals. Her 2.9 points per game, were again tops among the league's freshman, and No. 9-ranked among all players in the conference. Valdes' 1.4 steals per contest were the second most in the league and tops for all freshmen. In league games only, she led the conference freshman in goals (15), assists (11) and points (26) and was ranked No. 7, No. 3 and No. 5, respectively, among all GCC performers in those categories.
Valdes recorded nine games with at least three goals, including a single-game high five versus Concordia, and nine games of multiple assists, of which she twice had a season-best three assists. In 13 contests she recorded multiple steals, with three games of four steals each.
These are the first GCC postseason honors for both Legaspi and Valdes.
2023 Golden Coast Conference Women's Water Polo Postseason Awards
San Diego State honorees
Amanda Legaspi (first-team All-Golden Coast Conference)
Claudia Valdes (Golden Coast Conference All-Freshman Team)