LA JOLLA, Calif -The 17th-ranked UC San Diego women's water polo team dropped its home opener in the new Canyonview West Pool to 14th-ranked Hartwick 7-6 on Friday night.  The loss drops UCSD to 2-3 while the Hawks improve to 3-2.  Michelle Perkins paced UCSD with two goals, her final goal bringing the Tritons within one score with :52 left.  UCSD had one more chance to force overtime in its final possession, but the shot went wide.  Both squads will be participating in the 14-team Triton Invitational on Saturday and Sunday in Canyonview Pool. 

UCSD scored first as Nicole Hermann netted a goal with 6:24.  Hartwick then scored two goals one minute apart to lead 2-1.  UCSD tied the game on Perkins' first goal at 2-2.  Hartwick scored twice more to lead by two before Britta Nordstrom scored with :02 to end the period with UCSD trailing 4-3.

The Hawks scored the first two goals of the second to lead 6-3 before the Tritons put back-to-back goals at the 1:31 mark by Flynn LaRochelle and at :41 by Natalie Hockett to trail 6-5 at the break.

Hartwick's Bronwen Knox scored her third goal of the game for the only scoring in the third period to give the Hawks the 7-5 lead.

UCSD got on the board in the fourth period with :52 left on a Perkins goal.  The Tritons then forced a shot clock violation and called timeout with :17 remaining.  UCSD was unable to produce the game tying goal in the final seconds.