SAN DIEGO - The 11th-ranked UC San Diego women's water polo team nabbed two wins to open the Aztec Invitational, hosted by San Diego State, Saturday at Aztec Aquaplex. The Tritons defeated Bucknell by a score of 9-3 and No. 16 Indiana, 14-13, in sudden death overtime.
UCSD is now 16-6 on the year with the two wins. With the loss, Bucknell dropped to 8-9. Indiana now has a record of 10-5
GAME ONE - UC San Diego 9, Bucknell 3
The Tritons limited the Bison to just one goal in the first half en route to a 9-3 triumph.
UCSD struck first with a goal from senior attacker Laurel Kistler. Bucknell would briefly tie the game before the Tritons closed the first half with four unanswered from Kistler, sophomore utility Kala Fedler, senior attacker Julia Kirkland and junior center Lauren Boyer. UCSD went into halftime with a 5-1 advantage.
The Bison came out of the second half with a score to cut the margin to three. The Tritons would then put away three consecutive, one each from Boyer, Wieseler and senior attacker Emma Sasson. Bucknell closed the third quarter with a score as UCSD led by five with one period remaining.
The Tritons shut out the Bison in the fourth quarter and got one goal from Kistler to earn the win.
Kistler recorded a hat trick with three goals. Boyer pitched in two scores. Senior goalie Courtney Miller compiled nine saves. Bucknell got its three goals from three different players.
GAME TWO - UC San Diego 14, Indiana 13
Wieseler found the back of the cage with 1:17 left in the first period of sudden death overtime as UCSD prevailed over the Hoosiers, 14-13.
The two teams traded goals for most of the first half, with the Tritons taking a 7-6 advantage at halftime. UCSD got three goals from freshman center Chanel Schilling in the second period.
Tge Tritons put away three goals and limited Indiana to two in the third quarter to take a two-score lead with one period remaining.
The Hoosiers scored four times in the fourth quarter, including the game tying shot with six seconds remaining to send the game into overtime.
Schilling scored the first goal of in the first period overtime, but Indiana was able to score on in the second frame to send the game to sudden death.
One minute and 43 seconds into sudden death overtime, Wieseler was able to bury her fourth score to end the game.
Schilling led UCSD with six goals. Wieseler pitched in four and Kirkland put away two.
"I thought we played well overall, but with one bad fourth quarter," said head coach Brad Kreutzkamp. "It's quarters like those that teach us that we have to finish games strong. I was pleased with our two-meter offense and the breakout game by Chanel Schilling."
The Tritons will conclude the Aztec Invitational with two games against No. 14 Princeton and No. 18 Harvard on Sunday, March 13. The game against Princeton is scheduled for 10:15 a.m. and the matchup against Harvard is at 4:30 p.m.
GAME ONE
UCSD 3 2 3 1 - 9
BU 1 0 2 0 - 3
Goals
UCSD: Laurel Kistler 3, Lauren Boyer 2, Julia Kirkland 1, Alexis Wieseler 1, Emma Sasson 1, Kayla Fedler 1
BU: Marta Considine 1, Hannah Sunday 1, Emily Konishi 1
Saves
UCSD: Courtney Miller 7
GAME TWO
UCSD 3 4 3 2 1 0 1 - 14
IU 4 2 2 4 0 1 0 - 13
Goals
UCSD: Chanel Schilling 6, Alexis Wieseler 4, Julia Kirkland 2, Lauren Boyer 1, Lani Tittle 1
IU: Candace Schroeder 5, Kelly Matthews 2, Jennifer Beadle 2, Kate Pipkin 2, Karrie Kozokar 1, Sarah Young 1
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