IRVINE, Calif. – The 13th-ranked UC San Diego women's water polo team split the opening day of the UC Irvine Invitational at Anteater Aquatics Center. The Tritons fell to UC Davis, 8-7, in game one before taking game two against Loyola Marymount, 9-8.
The Tritons are now 7-5 on the season.
GAME ONE
UCSD narrowly fell to the Aggies, 8-7. The Tritons started the game by shutting out UC Davis in the opening quarter. Senior attacker Emma Sasson found the back of the cage as UCSD took a 1-0 lead.
The Tritons and Aggies each put away in the second period. Redshirt junior two-meter defender Alexis Wieseler had two scores, and junior attacher Connie Wu and junior center Lauren Boyer each put away one in the frame. UCSD led 5-4 at halftime.
The Tritons allowed four UC Davis scores and could not find the back of the cage. UCSD went into the final quarter down by three.
UCSD did not allow a goal in the final period, but were only able to muster two goals, one from Wieseler to complete her hat trick and one from Boyer.
Senior goalie Courtney Miller had six saves.
GAME TWO
The Tritons bounced back in the second game of the day and defeated Loyola Marymount 9-8.
UCSD trailed 3-1 to the Lions to start the game. With 35 seconds left in the first quarter, Boyer rifled one home as the Tritons trailed 3-2 at the end of the period.
The Tritons outscored LMU 3-0 in the second frame. The three scores came from senior attacker Laurel Kistler, senior attacker Julia Kirkland and Sasson. UCSD led 5-3 at halftime.
The Tritons allowed four Lion goals in the third quarter, but were able to find the back of the cage three times themselves, with goals from Kirkland, Kistler and Boyer. UCSD hung onto an 8-7 lead with one period remaining.
The Tritons got a two-goal advantage in the fourth period as junior two-meter defender Lani Tittle put one away. LMU was able to score, but it was too little, too late as UCSD took a narrow 9-8 victory.
The Tritons will close the UC Irvine Invitational on Sunday, Feb. 28. UCSD opens the day against No. 7 Arizona State at 8 a.m. at Corona del Mar High School.
“(I'm) very proud of the way we rebounded in tonight's game against LMU,” said head coach Brad Kreutzkamp. “We really came together and I was very proud of probably our most well rounded team win of the year.”
Boyer recorded a hat trick, leading the Tritons with three goals. Kistler and Kirkland pitched in two each. Miller amassed 10 saves in the cage.
GAME ONE
UCSD 1 4 0 2 - 7
UCD 0 4 4 0 - 8
Goals
UCSD: Alexis Wieseler 3, Lauren Boyer 2, Connie Wu 1, Emma Sasson 1
UCD: Allyson Hansen 3, Hannah Harvey 2, Bryn Lutz 1, Hailey Wright 1, Carla Tocchini 1
Saves
UCSD: Courtney Miller 6
UCD: Haley Cameron 5
GAME TWO
UCSD 2 3 3 1 - 9
LMU 3 0 4 1 - 8
Goals
UCSD: Lauren Boyer 3, Laurel Kistler 2, Julia Kirkland 2, Emma Sasson 1, Lauren Finwall 1, Lani Tittle 1
LMU: Emily Byrner 3, Ivana Castro 2, Bridgette Alveres 1, Hana Vilanova 1
Saves
UCSD: Courtney Miller 10
LMU: Sky Flores 7
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