LOS ANGELES, Calif. - The No. 6 UC San Diego men's water polo team led No. 4 UCLA for three-quarters but could not pull off the win, falling 6-5 on Friday afternoon in Los Angeles, Calif.  The loss drops the Tritons to 20-6.  Jonathan Hopkins led the way with two goals, while Kevin Smoker, Brandon Borso and Adnan Jerkovic each added one apiece.  Colin McElroy had seven saves for UCSD. 

Hopkins netted the first goal of the game, giving the Tritons a 1-0 lead.  UCLA tied the game at 1-1 with 1:02 left in the first, and the teams would end the period at 1-1.

Borso put home a goal at the 6:25 mark in the second quarter, giving the Tritons the 2-1 lead.  With 2:59 left, Jerkovic netted a goal to put the Tritons up by two.  UCLA would score with 1:45 but Hopkins would net his second goal of the game with :45 left to put the Tritons back up by two, 4-2.  UCLA's Simpkins scored on the Bruins' last possession before halftime with :19, putting the game at 4-3 UCSD at the break.

In the third quarter, the teams would remain scoreless until Kevin Smoker's goal with 1:12, giving UCSD the 5-3 advantage.  UCLA's Powell would score with :28 left, cutting the Triton lead to 5-4 at the end of three.

UCLA opened the fourth with a goal at the 6:24 mark, tying the game at 5-5, the first tie since it was 1-1 in the first quarter.  The next UCLA goal came at the 5:26 mark, giving the Bruins their first lead of the game.  The Tritons were unable to produce a game-tying score as the host Bruins held off UCSD for the win.

UCSD is back in action on Friday, October 28, when it takes on UC Irvine at 7:00 p.m. in Irvine, Calif.