LA JOLLA, Calif. – Opening Big West conference play at home, UC San Diego topped Sacramento State, 3-2, on Saturday night, with
Andrew Valverde putting away two for the Tritons.
The Tritons advance to 5-4-2 overall and 1-1 in the Big West while the Hornets move to 6-3-2 overall and 1-1 in the Big West.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Hornets found the back of the net first in the 30th minute with a goal in the lower right of the net to go up 1-0 on the Tritons. UC San Diego equalized five minutes later when
Alan Kim crossed the ball from the right to left, finding
Andrew Valverde. Valverde brought the ball down with a touch and sent a left-footed shot into the back right of the goal, evening the score 1-1.
The next goal came in the second 45 when
Max Carvalho made a hard run across the box with a pass from
Alessandro Allen. Carvalho's hard shot ricocheted off the Hornets' goalie into another defender causing an own goal, putting the Tritons up 2-1 early in the second half.
Sac State tied it up 2-2 in the 52nd minute on a throw-in that bounced around the box before being put in by the Hornets. Threatening in the 49th minute,
Mason Haubrich put a shot on frame in the top right-hand corner that the Hornets' goalie saved at the last second.
Nick Cirrito took a pass from Kim on the right-side corner of the box and sent it back to him as he came down the right field line, Kim then crossed to the left side once again finding Valverde for a Triton goal.
Taking the lead 3-2 with 24 to go, UC San Diego shifted back to their defensive posture and kept the Hornets out to secure the win.
QUOTABLE
TRITON TIDBITS
- The Tritons took 15 shots total with five on frame, outshooting the Hornets 13 shots with six on frame. Tonight is the first time in four games the Tritons have recorded double-digit shots and the second-highest shots on goal.
- This is only the second game of the season the Tritons have not recorded a yellow card.
- UC San Diego committed a total of 11 fouls to Sac State's 18.
- Sophomore Andrew Valverde scored two goals in tonight's matchup, marking his first collegiate goal in the 35th minute.
- After tonight's win, the Tritons (1-1) move into third place with four other schools in the Big West Conference.
- This is the second time UC San Diego and Sacramento State have met one another. The series moves to 1-1 after tonight.
UP NEXT
Continuing conference play, UC San Diego will host UC Riverside for a midweek matchup on Wednesday, Oct. 5, and will stream live on ESPN+ with sports broadcaster Taylor Quellman and 15-year pro-baller Sal Zizzo calling the action. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 pm with live stats available on ucsdtritons.com.
About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program began a new era in 2020 as a member of the Big West Conference in NCAA Division I. The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 83 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 38 have earned prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 91 percent, one of the highest rates among institutions at all divisions.
