STANFORD, Calif. -  The tenth-ranked UC San Diego men's water polo team split the opening day of the Kap7 NorCal Tournament, hosted by Stanford at Avery Aquatics Center Saturday. The Tritons fell to No. 7 Long Beach State 11-6 in the first of two games. UCSD then defeated conference rival Santa Clara in comeback fashion, 15-11, in the second matchup.

Game One
After a tight back-and-forth game for two quarters, LBSU outscored the Tritons 6-3 in the second half to get the win, 11-6.

The 49ers' Duncan Lynde got the first goal of the game in just 28 seconds of play. Nick Alexander found the back of the cage to tie the game for UCSD. LBSU would get one more goal to take a 2-1 lead after the opening period.

The Tritons opened the second frame with a quick score from Alexander. After the 49ers answered back with a goal of their own, Alexander completed his hat trick by rifling home his third score to tie the game once again. LBSU scored two more times to go into halftime 5-3.

The 49ers opened the game up in the second half with three goals and limiting UCSD to one. LBSU found the back of the cage three more times in the fourth frame, including one by Dimitrios Lappas to complete a hat trick of his hown, to take a five-point victory.

"It was a tough game for us," said head coach Denny Harper. "They were very physical, we didnt respond like we should have. It was a good learning experience."

Alexander led the Tritons with a game co-high three goals and Chase Cockerill added two of his own.

The 49ers' Lappas also scored three times. Jacob Fujioka and Lee Griffin had two goals each. 

Game Two
After trailing the Broncos by one score after the first quarter and being deadlocked at halftime, UCSD outscored SCU 7-3 in the second half to win by a final score of 15-11.

The Broncos and Tritons exchanged goals in the opening period and SCU's Owen Asalone found the back of the cage with 25 seconds left to give his team a 5-4 lead. UCSD got two scores from Tyler Mancuso and one each from Cockerill and Jack Ellinthorpe. The Tritons scored three times in the second frame, including one from Mancuso to complete his hat trick, to tie the game 8-8 after the first half.

The Tritons pulled away in third quarter as Mancuso scored two more times and Ellinthorpe, Cole Martinez and Nassim Hmeidan each rifled home one of their own. UCSD limited the Broncos to one goal in the fourth period to take a four-point victory. 

Mancuso led all scorers with five goals. Cockerill, Ellinthorpe and Alexander added two each for UCSD.

Nine different players scored for SCU, with Asalone and Julian Fraser leading the way with two each.

The Tritons totaled 24 personal fouls drawn on the day, a season-hgih 14 against LBSU and 10 against the Broncos.

"We historically outdraw our opponents because we do a lot of motion stuff," Harper commented on the stat. 

The Tritons close out the Kap7 NorCal Tournament Sunday, Sept. 13. They go up against No. 12 Princeton at 12:15 p.m. depending on the outcome, they play again at either 4:50 p.m. or 6:15 p.m., with the opponent to be determined.

GAME ONE
UCSD               1              2              1              2      -      6
LBSU                2              3              3              3      -      11

Goals
UCSD: Nick Alexander 3, Chase Cockerill 2, Nassim Hmeidan 1

LBSU: Dimitrios Lappas 3, Jacob Fujioka 2, Lee Griffin 2, Lovro Miocevic 1, Keegan Wicken 1, Duncan Lynde 1, Troy Kaltenbach 1

GAME TWO
UCSD               4              4              5              2      -      15
SCU                  5              3              2              1      -      11

Goals
UCSD: Tyler Mancuso 5, Chase Cockerill 2, Nick Alexander 2, Jack Ellinthorpe 1,Cole Martinez 1, Nassim Hmeidan 1, Tiki Toplak 1, Andy Moore 1

SCU: Owen Asalone 2, Julian Fraser 2, DeMarco Orella 1, Graham McClone 1, Evan Chang 1, Sam Torrigino 1, Michael Franco 1, John Raineri 1, Dane Estrella 1