LA JOLLA, Calif. -

The 17^th-ranked UC San Diego women's water polo team defeated No. 13 Indiana 9-3 and No. 12 UC Irvine 6-5 to capture fifth-place at the Triton Invitational on Sunday. UCSD's Michelle Perkins and Natalie Hockett scored twice apiece in the win over the Hoosiers. UCSD fell behind UCI 4-1 in the third quarter but the Tritons stormed back to tie the game at the end of the third 5-5, the last on a Hockett goal with :01 left. Perkins netted the game-winner with :43 left, giving UCSD the win. The Tritons are now 5-4 on the season.

In the first game against Indiana, UCSD led 4-2 after the first quarter as Michelle Perkins had two goals and Flynn LaRochelle and Miho Umezawa added scores. From that point it was all UCSD as the Tritons scored the next five goals over the last three quarters. Sarah Bajorek, Nicole Hermann and Nicole Afflerback added goals while Natalie Hockett added two more fourth-quarter goals. UCSD did not allow a goal in the second and third quarter, while Indiana finally scored late in the fourth, but the outcome had already been decided in favor of UCSD 9-3.

UCSD fell behind UCI 4-1 with 6:29 left in the third quarter before making its run. Hockett scored with 4:25 left to cut the lead down to 4-2. Judy Emaus then scored with 2:44 left and Kirsten Frazer tied it at 4-4 with 2:03 left. UCI went ahead 5-4 on a goal with :12 left. UCSD gained the momentum right back as Hockett scored with :01 left off a rebound to tie it at 5-5. Both teams remained scoreless in the fourth, exchanging shots on goal. UCSD called timeout with 1:01 remaining and set up Perkins' goal with :43 left. UCSD forced a turnover on the final possession and held on for the 6-5 win.

UCSD is back in action at the Cal State Bakersfield tournament on Saturday, February 18 in Bakersfield, Calif.