CORONA DEL MAR, Calif. – The No. 11 UC San Diego women's water polo team finished its weekend with a win Sunday, taking down No. 15 UC Santa Barbara 11-10 in overtime at the Barbara Kalbus Invitational at the Marian Bergeson Aquatic Complex.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Tritons (9-7) were locked in a battle from the outset in this match, trading goals with UCSB through the first period. UC San Diego took its first lead with a power play goal from Ciara Franke, bringing the score to 3-2 with 36 seconds remaining in the period.
 
The Gauchos would not go down easily though, outscoring the Tritons 4-2 in the third period and hanging around to tie the score at 8-8 with a second left in the third. They regained the lead to open the fourth period. UC San Diego buckled down at that point, with Courtney Okumura tying the score at 9-9 and, after UCSB took its final lead of the match, Franke tied it once more with her third goal with just under three minutes remaining.
 
Kendall Thomas scored the only goal of overtime, giving the Tritons the lead with one minute remaining in the first extra period. Bennett Bugelli finished the match with 10 saves and eight goals allowed, shutting out the Gauchos in overtime.

UC San Diego was 8-for-13 (.615) on power play opportunities while UC Santa Barbara scored just once in eight power play situations (.125).
 
QUOTABLE
"Finishing every tournament with a win obviously feels good and this one clearly felt better being against a Big West conference opponent and after the rough start we had to this tournament," said UC San Diego head coach Brad Kreutzkamp. "Our power play dedication is what won us this game today."
 
TRITON TIDBITS

• Four Score And… – Four different Tritons combined to contribute 11 goals in this match. Ciara Franke, Taylor Onstott and Courtney Okumura netted three goals each, with Kendall Thomas contributing two goals, including the go-ahead score.
• Goal Streak Grows – Ciara Franke has now recorded at least one goal in all 12 matches she has competed in this season, totaling 31 goals. Franke recorded three goals, tied for the team lead, in the win over UCSB on Sunday.
• Records Watch – Bennett Bugelli recorded 10 more saves against UCSB, bringing her career total up to 705 career saves, moving her up to third all-time past Maryam Hadiashar, 697 saves, and Leona Mason, 701 saves. This season, she has already leapt up from ninth place after making 25 saves at the UCSB Winter Invite. Next on the list is Jefi Paulsen with 852 saves.

Goalie Saves	Player Name	Years Played
1,465 saves	Courtney Miller	2013-2016
852 saves	Jefi Paulsen	1987-1990
705 saves	Bennett Bugelli	2017-
701 saves	Leona Mason	1993-1996
697 saves	Maryam Hadiashar	1997-2000

 
UP NEXT
UC San Diego (9-7, 0-0 BWC) vs Azusa Pacific (3-3)
Friday, March 4 at 1:45 pm (Non-conference)
Convergence Tournament – Claremont, Calif.
 
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 has begun a new era 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 37 have garnered 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. For more information on the Tritons, visit UCSDtritons.com or follow UC San Diego Athletics on social media @UCSDtritons.