LA JOLLA, Calif. – Eight different players found the back of the cage as the 10th-ranked UC San Diego men's water polo team defeated Redlands, 12-8, on the final day of the Triton Invitational at Canyonview Aquatic Center. UCSD then fell to No. 3. UCLA, 13-5, in its second matchup of the afternoon.
Game One – No. 10 UCSD 12, Redlands 8
After a 6-5 Triton lead at halftime, UCSD out-scored Redlands 6-3 to earn the victory.
With a 2-2 stalemate in the middle first quarter, the Tritons were able to close the frame with three unanswered goals from Nick Alexander, John Lovat and Thomas Higginson, giving UCSD a 5-2 edge going into the second period.
The Bulldogs would strike back, as they scored three unanswered of their own, to tie the game at 5-5 to start the second. With 4:02 left in the quarter, Chase Cockerill was able to net a backhanded shot to put UCSD back on top.
UC San Diego was able to pull away in the third quarter as they outscored the Bulldogs 4-1, giving the Tritons a 10-6 lead. The lone goal for Redlands in the period came from Jake Funk with 11 seconds left.
Both squads were able to score twice in the final period.
Cameron Ravanbach had 15 saves in net for the Tritons and Cockerill, Joe Dietrich, Matt Michalko and David Higginson scored two goals apiece.
John Koning scored three times and goalkeeper Chris Sekula had 14 saves for Redlands.
Game Two – No. 3 UCLA 13, No. 12 UCSD 5
UCLA scored five times in the second and fourth quarters en route to defeating UCSD, 13-5.
The Tritons were able to keep up with the Bruins in the first frame, as the two teams were tied, 2-2, going into the second period.
The second period proved to be crucial, as UCLA scored five times and only allowed one for a 7-3 advantage going into halftime.
The Tritons and Bruins each netted one goal in the third stanza before UCLA erupted for a five-spot in the fourth frame.
The Tritons were led by Dan Lorch, who scored twice. Ravanbach had 13 saves.
Four players scored twice for UCLA, while Garrett Danner had seven saves for the Bruins.
The Tritons finished the tournament with an even 2-2 record.
For results from all Triton Invitational match-ups, click here.
UCSD will hit the road next to take on No. 7 UC Santa Barbara on Saturday, Sept. 13 (12 p.m.). The Gauchos went 3-1 at the Triton Invitational.
GAME ONE
UCSD 5 1 4 2 - 12
Redlands 2 3 1 2 - 8
Goals
UCSD: Chase Cockerill 2, Joe Dietrich 2, Matt Michalko 2, David Higginson 2, Thomas Higginson 1, Nick Alexander 1, Josh Stiling 1, John Lovat 1
Redlands: John Koning 3, Jake Funk 2, Kevin Chapa, Zac Polmanteer, Mark Zikov
Saves
UCSD: Cameron Ravanbach 15
Redlands: Chris Sekula 14
------
GAME TWO
UCSD 2 1 1 1 - 5
UCLA 2 5 1 5 - 13
Goals
UCSD: Dan Lorch 2, Chase Cockerill 1, Josh Stiling 1, David Higginson 1
UCLA: Danny McClintick 2, Cristiano Mirarchi 2, Maxwell Irving 2, Chris Fahlsing 2, Chancellor Ramirez 1, Anthony Daboub 1, Alex Roelfe 1, Jack Grover 1, Daniel Lenhart 1
Saves
UCSD: Cameron Ravanbach 13
UCLA: Garrett Danner 7
Tournament Records
Cal 4-0
Long Beach State 4-0
UC Irvine 4-0
UCLA 4-0
USC 4-0
Pacific 3-1
UC Santa Barbara 3-1
UC San Diego 2-2
Air Force 1-3
UC Davis 1-3
Cal Lutheran 0-2
California Baptist 0-2
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 0-2
Pomona-Pitzer 0-2
La Verne 0-4
LMU 0-4
Redlands 0-4
#TritonsRising
