UCSD Advances to Third Straight NCAA Championship With Victory Over Whittier, 17-11

LA JOLLA, Calif. - For the third consecutive season, the Tritons accomplished their yearly goal of reaching the National Collegiate Championship with a 17-11 win over Whittier in the NCAA play-in game at Canyonview Aquatic Center Saturday.

The Tritons will head to the eight-team field in Stanford at the Avery Aquatic Center on May 8-10. UCSD is slated to face No. 2 UCLA (24-2) on Friday at 3:30 p.m.

With the win the Tritons improve to 19-18 on the season. UCSD will take a three game win streak into its fourth overall appearance in the NCAA Championship.

Sophomore Lani Tittle, who scored a caree-high four goals in the WWPA Championship game against Cal State East Bay, led the offensive charge once again with four goals while Julia Kirkland, Jolene Guiliana and Lauren Boyer all completed the hat trick in the win.

After Whittier scored the opening goal, the Poets never led again for the remainder of the match. Freshman Kayla Fedler fired back-to-back scores to give UCSD the advantage and Boyer recorded her first goal of the game. But Jolene Rivera tied the match at 3-3 with 27 seconds left in the first quarter.

UCSD took a lead by starting the second frame with three unanswered goals from Boyer and Tittle. Rivera completed the hat trick, scoring the Poets lone goal of the second quarter. Boyer then tacked on one more for a 7-4 advantage at the half.

Even with a three run lead, the Tritons began to pull away by scoring six goals in the third quarter. UCSD went on a 5-0 run to start the period. Tittle scored the first goal of the frame to complete the hat trick and Kirkland followed with two scores. Tittle and Laurel Kistler complete the run before Isabella Gorrocino recorded the Poets only goal of the period. Guiliana wrapped up the frame with a score to put Tritons on top, 13-5.

The Poets cracked the Tritons defense in the final frame as they put up six goals in an attempt to comeback. But UCSD stayed strong scoring four to close out the 17-11 win.

UCSD will be making its fourth trip to the NCAA Championship in five years following the victory. The Tritons highest finish came in 2013 with a sixth-place effort.

Box Score

WC 3 1 1 6 11
UCSD 3 4 6 4 17
Goals
UCSD: Lani Tittle 4, Jolene Guiliana 3, Julia Kirkland 3, Lauren Boyer 3, Laurel Kistler 2, Kayla Fedler 2
WC: Jenel Rivera 4, Angelica Hernandez 4, Isabella Gorrocino 2, Melissa Pinlac 1
Saves:
UCSD: Courtney Miller 4
WC: Caitlin Bronzan 3