SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - The ninth-ranked UC San Diego men's water polo team (2-3) traveled north to face No. 7 UC Santa Barbara (5-1) on Saturday. The teams were tied 6-6 in the third quarter until the Gauchos were able to pull away for a 13-10 victory. 

The Tritons stumbled out of the gate as they were outscored 3-1 in the first frame. After giving up the first goal to the Gauchos, Josh Stiling tied it up 1-1 with 3:02 left before the hosts hit the target twice to end the period with the 3-1 lead. 

UCSD found better offensive success in the second quarter as the Tritons scored four goals to the Gauchos' three to make it a one-score game at halftime, 6-5. 

Luca De Vivo found the back of the cage to tie the game 6-6 in the opening minute of the third period. UCSB would respond with three unanswered scores to go up 9-6. Stiling ended the quarter with another goal to get the Tritons within two. 

The Gauchos started the final quarter with two goals to give them a four-point lead. UCSD tried to rally and come back, cutting the difference to as close as two scores, but UCSB pulled away once again, throwing two more into the cage to end the game.

The Tritons will travel to Stockton to participate in the NorCal Tournament on Sept. 20-21. UCSD will face UC Irvine on Saturday, Sept. 20 at 9:20 a.m. in the first round. For more info on the tournament, click here. 

No. 7 UCSB 13, No. 9 UCSD 10 
UCSD                    1              4              2              3      -      10
UCSB                    3              3              3              4      -      13

Goals
UCSD: Josh Stiling 4, Luca De Vivo, Joe Dietrich 1, Jacob Castro 1, Chase Cockerill 1, Lukas Syka 1, David Higginson 1
UCSB: Ryan Baliani 3, Kevin Cappon 2, Shane Hauschild 2, Josh Jordan 2, Matthew Hamilton 2, Chase Racich 1, Nicholas Jordan 1

Saves
UCSD: Cameron Ravanbach 1
UCSB: Chris Whitelegge 8

#TritonsRising