RIVERSIDE, Calif. - Trailing by two scores after three quarters, the fifteenth-ranked UC San Diego men's water polo team fired home six goals in the final period to defeat California Baptist, 13-11, in a Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) matchup Thursday at Lancer Aquatics Complex. The two teams accounted for seven ties during the course of the back-and-forth game.

With the win, the Tritons improve their record to 7-7 and remain unbeaten in conference play at 2-0. The Lancers fall to 9-7 and are now 1-2 in WWPA games.

UCSD started off slow as CBU's Tucker Angelo and Christopher Forte were able to find the back of the cage to give the Lancers an early two-goal advantage. Seniors Nick Alexander and Tyler Mancuso each scored for the Tritons as the two teams were deadlocked at 2-2 at the end of the opening quarter.

CBU took a two-score lead, 5-3, with 4:13 left in the second frame after Brent Teraoka scored for the Lancers. UCSD didn't falter and put away three straight, coming from Alexander, Andreas Stathatos and Tiki Toplak, to claim a one-score advantage with 31 seconds remaining in the period. The Lancers were able to find the back of the cage 22 seconds later, with nine ticks remaining, as the two teams were even at 6-6, at halftime.

The Tritons were limited to one goal from Mancuso in the third quarter and allowed three CBU scores, including one with eight seconds remaining in the period. UCSD trailed 9-7 going into the final frame.

The Tritons rifled home two goals early in the fourth quarter and tied the game once again. The Lancers' Teraoka put away a five-meter penalty shot after a personal foul committed by Stathatos to give his team the advantage. UCSD claimed the lead for good after goals from Alexander and Chase Cockerill. After a CBU score, Cockerill secured the win with another goal as the Tritons won by six.

UCSD's Alexander turned in his fifth hat trick of the season with a game-high five goals. Mancuso and Cockerill also completed hat tricks of their own with three goals each.

Angelo and Teraoka led the Lancers with four and three scores, respectively.

The Tritons will have one day off before the two-day Kap7 SoCal Tournament, hosted by Pepperdine and Loyola Marymount. UCSD will open the event on Saturday at 12 p.m. against UC Santa Barbara. 

Box Score
UCSD              2          4          1          6          -           13
CBU                 2          4          3          2          -           11

Goals
UCSD: Nick Alexander 5, Tyler Mancuso 3, Chase Cockerill 3, Tiki Toplak 1, Andreas Stathatos 1

CBU: Tucker Angelo 4, Brent Teraoka 4, Nick Cantu 1, Chistopher Forte 1, Clint Walling 1

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