LA JOLLA, Calif. – Four Tritons each scored a pair of goals as No. 18 UC San Diego roared back to top 12th-ranked UC Davis by a score of 8-7 on Friday afternoon on the opening day of the Triton Invitational at Canyonview Aquatic Center. The Tritons (4-5) erased a 5-1 deficit to earn the hard-fought comeback win.
 
UC Davis fell to 1-4 with the setback.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Aggies jumped out to a 5-2 halftime lead, outshooting the Tritons, 16-13, over the first 16 minutes. Sophomores Lucia Doak and Courtney Okumura each found the back of the net in the first half for UC San Diego, with junior Annika Arroyo assisting on each score.
 
The Tritons got off to a strong start in the third quarter, with Okumura scoring her second goal of the afternoon. UC San Diego took advantage of an extra man opportunity, with freshman Sofia Munatones finding Okumura for the score, drawing the Tritons to within 5-3.
 
UC San Diego tied the match thanks to third quarter goals from Munatones and freshman Caroline Christl. With the score knotted at 5-5, UC Davis got a pair of goals from Alyssa Legtat in the final 13 seconds of the third, sending the match to the fourth quarter with the Aggies in front, 7-5.
 
Christl scored her second with 7:00 to play, and Doak tied the match with 4:48 left. Munatones completed the comeback with the game-winner at 3:18 on the clock.
 
Triton goalie Lexi Stahl had a stellar match in the cage, making nine stops in the win.
 
For updated tournament information, game schedule, and more, visit the Triton Invitational Tournament Central page.
 
QUOTABLE

 
TRITON TIDBITS

• 2023 marks the first year that the Triton Invitational has grown to a three-day event.
• UC San Diego improved to 2-3 vs. ranked teams so far this season.
• The Tritons outscored the Aggies 6-2 in the second half.

 
UP NEXT
On Saturday morning, the Triton Invitational continues when UC San Diego takes on No. 3 UCLA for the second time this season. Earlier Friday, the Bruins downed CSUN, 21-3. Saturday's match gets underway at 9:50 am from Canyonview Aquatic Center and tickets can be purchased through the Triton Box Office.
 
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 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 90 percent, the highest rate among public institutions in Divisions I and II.