LA JOLLA, Calif. ? The 7th-ranked UC San Diego men's water polo team defeated UC Santa Cruz 10-4 and took down No. 10 UC Santa Barbara 9-7 on the first day of the Triton Invitational at Canyonview Pool. The first day of the Invitational drew 2,030 fans as UCSD, UC Davis, Pepperdine and Pacific all advanced to winners' bracket games. In the win over UCSC, Nestor Dordoni, Adnan Jerkovic and Curtis Williamson scored twice apiece. A.J. Kotanjian, Mike Lee and Steven Donohoe each added two goals in the win over the Gauchos. UCSD takes on UC Davis at 10:20 a.m. tomorrow at the Canyonview West Pool.
UCSD 10, UCSC 4
In the first period, UCSD scored first as Ty Lackey netted a goal. With the score tied at 1-1, A.J. Kotanjian scored to give the Tritons a 2-1 lead after one.
After UCSC tied it at 2-2, Adnan Jerkovic scored at 4:27 and Curtis Williamson scored at 2:47 as the Tritons led 4-2 at halftime.
UCSD's Nestor Dordoni scored two consecutive times to put the Tritons ahead 6-2. Jerkovic and Williamson also scored their second goals of the afternoon as UCSD led 8-3 after three.
In the fourth, Mike Lee and Sean Roberts scored as UCSD won 10-4.
UCSD 9, UCSB 7
Trailing 1-0 in the first quarter, Kotanjian (3:10), Lackey (2:43), Daniel Garcia (2:12) and Lee (1:54) put together a Triton run before UCSB scored to end the quarter with UCSD in front 4-2.
Jerkovic opened the second quarter with a goal to push UCSD up 5-2. A late UCSB goal brought the Gauchos within 5-3. at the intermission.
Kotanjian scored at 6:05 to give the Tritons a three-goal lead again. Lee scored with 2:12 left to extend the lead to 7-3. UCSB got right back into the game with scores at 1:54 and 1:01 to make the score 7-5 UCSD after three.
UCSD's Donohoe then connected at 5:32 and 3:01 to give the Tritons a 9-5 edge. The Gauchos closed but could not pull it out with scores at 2:43 and 1:53 to end the game at 9-7 UCSD.
For complete results and updated tournament schedules, visit the UCSD Invitational tournament central page on ucsdtritons.com.
