No. 13 UCSD Bounces Back on Day Two of UCSB Winter Invite

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - After two tough losses on Saturday, the No. 13 UC San Diego women's water polo team came back Sunday and defeated No. 17 Michigan, 9-5, and upset No. 11 Long Beach State, 8-6, at the UCSB Winter Invite.

Alexis Wieseler led the Tritons (2-2) with seven goals, while Courtney Miller recorded 27 saves in the cage.

"I was extremely happy with our team's performance today," UCSD head coach Brad Kreutzkamp said. "We had a long discussion about who we are and who we need to be. They responded perfectly. It could have been very easy for them to just shrink away from the challenge today, but instead they charged head on and I couldn't be more proud of our performance. Getting two top 20 wins in one day is a fantastic accomplishment."

In the first game versus Michigan, Miller was impressive in the cage as she gave up just one goal in the opening half. She posted 11 stops against the Wolverines (1-3).

UCSD scored three times in the first half to take a 3-1 advantage into the break. The Wolverines managed to outscore the Tritons in the third frame to pull within one, 5-4, as they headed into the final quarter.

The Tritons came out strong in the fourth period as they found the back of the cage four times to put away the game. Wieseler finished with four goals and Laurel Kistler followed close behind with three scores.

In their final match of the tourney, the Tritons found themselves trailing, 4-2, after the first quarter. But thanks again to Miller's stout defense and hot shooting from Wieseler and Julia Kirkland, UCSD pulled off the win.

The Tritons used a strong defensive frame in the second to blank the 49ers (0-3) and began to edge their way back with a goal of their own.

UCSD tied it up in the third quarter at five apiece and once again finished strong as they used three goals in the final quarter to take the lead and win 8-6.

Miller posted a season-high 16 stops in the cage against the 49ers, while Wieseler earned her second hat trick of the day and Kirkland notched one as well.

The Tritons will return home to host Hartwick at Caynonview Aquatic Center on Feb. 5 at 7 p.m. UCSD will then host the Triton Invitational on Feb. 7-8. The schedule is slated to be released next week.

Box Game One
UCSD 1 2 2 4 - 9
UM 0 1 3 1 - 5
Goals
UCSD: Alexis Wieseler 4, Laurel Kistler 3, Julia Kirkland 1, Emma Sasson 1
UM: Ali Thomason 3, Allison Skaggs 1, Bryce Beckwith 1
Saves
UCSD: Courtney Miller 11
UM: Julia Campbell

Box Game Two
UCSD 2 1 2 3 - 8
LBSU 4 0 1 1 - 6
Goals
UCSD: Alexis Wieseler 3, Julia Kirkland 3, Jolene Guiliana 1, Lauren Finwall 1
LBSU: Kayla Robert 1, Justine Morgan 1, Jessica Brooks 1, Christina Kotsia 1, Lulza Moraes 1, Virginia Smith 1
Saves
UCSD: Courtney Miller 16
LBSU: Marriette Harris