LA JOLLA, Calif. - After starting its season with five games on the road, the ninth-ranked UC San Diego women's water polo team comes home to host its annual Triton Invitational.
The 15-team tourney is set for Feb. 2-4.
Friday's games take place at the Coggan Family Aquatic Complex on the campus of La Jolla High School. All games on Saturday and Sunday will be played at UC San Diego's Canyonview Aquatic Center.
As always, the tourney features a stacked field with all but two teams ranked in the national top-25.
The Tritons come in with a solid 5-1 record and are riding a four-game win streak. Through six contests, UC San Diego has netted exactly 100 goals while giving up just 35.
First up, they face No. 14 Arizona State on Friday at 4 p.m.
The Sun Devils head to Southern California unbeaten with a 4-0 record. ASU has outscored its opponents by 50 goals, 74-24.
The winner of Friday's game will play the winner of the UCLA/California Baptist game on Saturday at 10:40 a.m. The loser of the UC San Diego/Arizona State tilt will go up against the loser of Friday's game between the Bruins and Lancers on Saturday at 8:40 a.m.
For a complete tournament schedule and ticket information, visit the
tournament page.
THE ESSENTIALS
--- Game 7: Triton Invitational ---
• #9 UC San Diego (5-1) vs. #14
Arizona State (4-0)
• Friday / February 2 / 4pm Pacific
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Coggan Family Aquatic Complex / La Jolla, Calif. (
map)
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Tickets
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Tournament Central
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Live Stats
•
Twitter /
Instagram
THE WHO
This year's rendition of the Triton Invitational features a total of 15 teams with 13 of those squads among the national top-25. Four teams are in the top-5 including top-ranked USC, No. 3 UCLA, No. 4 Hawai'i, and No. 5 Fresno State. No. 6 UC Irvine, No. 9 UC San Diego, and No. 10 Michigan round out the country's top-10.
• #1 USC
• #3 UCLA
• #4 Hawai'i*
• #5 Fresno State
• #6 UC Irvine*
• #9 UC San Diego*
• #10 Michigan
• #11 Loyola Marymount
• #12 UC Santa Barbara*
• #13 Long Beach State*
• #14 Arizona State
• #16 UC Davis*
• #22 San Diego State
• California Baptist
• Concordia
* Big West team
RECENT TRITON INVITE WINNERS
Runner-up in ()
• 2023: USC (UCLA)
• 2022: UCLA (USC)
• 2021: Not held due to pandemic
• 2020: UCLA (USC)
• 2019: USC (UCLA)
• 2018: USC (UCLA)
• 2017: USC (Arizona State)
• 2016: USC (UCLA)
• 2015: USC (UC Irvine)
• 2014: USC (UC Irvine)
• 2013: USC (Arizona State)
• 2012: Arizona State (UC Irvine)
• 2011: UCLA (Loyola Marymount)
• 2010: Loyola Marymount (Hartwick)
TRITON DEBUTS
Four UC San Diego freshmen made their collegiate debuts against Ottawa on Jan. 20 at UC Santa Barbara's Winter Invitational. The foursome accounted for five goals, two assists, and six steals in the Tritons' 23-2 victory.
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Emily Cloherty: 2 shots, 2 goals, 1 drawn exclusion, 1 steal
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Maddie McMahon: 1 shot, 1 goal, 1 steal
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Olivia Obando: 1 shot, 1 goal, 3 steals
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Abigail Schechter: 1 shot, 1 goal, 2 assists, 1 steal
TRITON LEADERS
(through 2/1/24)
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Goals:
Lucia Doak 11,
Kendall Thomas 11
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Assists:
Allie Bartholomew 7
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Points:
Lucia Doak 12,
Kendall Thomas 12
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Shots:
Lucia Doak, 18
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Shot Percentage:
Kendall Thomas .647
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Drawn Exclusions:
Kendall Thomas 5
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Steals:
Lexi Stahl 10
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Field Blocks:
Kendall Thomas 2
TRITONS IN THE BIG WEST TOP 10
(through 2/1/24, all games)
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Allie Bartholomew: 7th in assists (7)
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Lucia Doak: 6th in goals (11)
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Sasha Frey: 9th in steals (7)
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Sofia Munatones: 5th in sprint wins (4)
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Lexi Stahl: 2nd in saves (34), 2nd in steals/game (2.0), 3rd in steals (10), 3rd in goals against average (7.56), 6th in save percentage (.500), 6th in saves/game (6.8)
• Kendall Thomas: 6th in goals (11)
ACTIVE TRITON SCORING STREAKS
(through 2/1/24)
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Grayson Mix: 4
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Lucia Doak: 2
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Sasha Frey: 2
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Sofia Munatones: 2
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Kendall Thomas: 2
TRITON GAME-WINNING GOALS
(through 2/1/24)
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Grayson Mix: 2 (Marist, Fresno Pacific)
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Caroline Christl: 1 (Ottawa)
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Lucia Doak: 1 (California Baptist)
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Cascade Stensland: 1 (Whittier)
TRITON GOAL BREAKDOWN
(through 2/1/24)
TRITON RECORDS
(through 2/1/24)
| Overall |
5-1 |
| Big West |
0-0 |
| Non-conference |
5-1 |
| At home |
0-0 |
| On the road |
1-0 |
| At at neutral site |
4-1 |
| In overtime |
0-0 |
| Scoring 4-6 goals |
0-0 |
| Scoring 7-9 goals |
0-1 |
| Scoring 10-12 goals |
0-0 |
| Scoring 13-15 goals |
2-0 |
| Scoring 16-18 goals |
0-0 |
| Scoring 19-20 goals |
2-0 |
| Scoring 21-plus goals |
1-0 |
| More steals than opponent |
4-0 |
| Opponent has more steals |
1-1 |
| Steals are even |
0-0 |
| More shots than opponent |
5-1 |
| Opponent has more shots |
0-0 |
| Shots are even |
0-0 |
| More exclusions than opponent |
2-1 |
| Opponent has more exclusions |
3-0 |
| Exclusions are even |
0-0 |
| More field blocks than opponent |
2-0 |
| Opponent has more field blocks |
2-1 |
| Field blocks are even |
1-0 |
| On Wednesdays |
0-0 |
| On Thursdays |
0-0 |
| On Fridays |
0-0 |
| On Saturdays |
3-1 |
| On Sundays |
2-0 |
2024 AWARDS
Kendall Thomas: UCU Athlete of the Week (1/29).
UC SAN DIEGO ROSTER BREAKDOWN
Returning (20)
Annika Arroyo, UTL
Allie Bartholomew, ATT
Lauren Bellavia, ATT
Caroline Christl, UTL
Lucia Doak, CD
Sila Fedler, UTL
Sasha Frey, ATT
Hannah Kawar, C
Kenzie Larson, ATT
Grayson Mix, UTL
Abby Moll, ATT
Sofia Munatones, ATT
Sydney Munatones, ATT
Courtney Okumura, ATT
Olivia Seargeant, UTL
Lexi Stahl, GK
Cascade Stensland, CD
Kendall Thomas, C
Katie Ward, GK
Bria Zwaschka, GK
Lost (8)
Caroline Courtois, ATT
Natalie DiMeo, ATT
Tania Frank, ATT
Madisongrace Guerra, GK
Maja Layden, C
Maddie Solares, ATT
Kayla Peacock, ATT
Carson Rampelberg, ATT
Newcomers (7)
Kyla Bruhn, ATT
Emily Cloherty, ATT
Paedrin Gillett, GK
Zoe Grover, ATT
Maddie McMahon, UTL
Olivia Obando, ATT
Abigail Schechter, UTL
AYE AYE CAPTAIN
The Tritons' co-captains this season are senior
Annika Arroyo and junior
Lexi Stahl.
THOMAS NAMED TO ALL-BIG WEST PRESEASON COACHES' TEAM
Junior
Kendall Thomas was recently named to the 2024 All-Big West Preseason Coaches' Team. In 2023, Thomas rang up 67 points on 56 goals and 11 assists. The center led the Tritons in drawn exclusions with 42 and was second on the team in points and goals. Among all Big West players, she ranked seventh in goals and 10th in points. Thomas scored multiple goals in 16 games including a career-best seven in a win against conference opponent Cal State Fullerton. In the annual Harper Cup game against San Diego State, Thomas scored with three seconds left to give the Tritons a 10-9 win and keep the cup in La Jolla for the seventh-consecutive season. Thomas earned several accolades in 2023 including All-America Honorable Mention from the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC), All-Big West Second Team, and Harper Cup MVP. She also won academic awards from the Big West and ACWPC.
'TIS THE PRESEASON
2024 Big West Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. UC Irvine: 47 points, 5 first-place votes
2. Hawai'i: 42, 1
3. Long Beach State: 40, 2
4. UC San Diego: 31
5. UC Davis: 23
6. UC Santa Barbara: 20
7. CSUN: 13
8. Cal State Fullerton: 8
2024 All-Big West Preseason Coaches' Team
Rachel Kowalchick: Sr., Center, Long Beach State
Bia Mantellato Dias: So., Center, Hawai'i
Elisa Portillo: So., Attacker, Long Beach State
Faith Tedesco: Sr., Goalkeeper, UC Irvine
Dorottya Telek: Sr., Center, CSUN
Kendall Thomas: Jr., Center, UC San Diego
Nioka Thomas: Jr., Center, UC Irvine
TAKE ME BACK
In 2023, the Tritons went 14-17 overall and posted a 4-3 Big West record. They finished strong, winning five of their last six games. As the fourth seed in the Big West Championship, UC San Diego defeated fifth-seeded UC Davis in a quarterfinal and fell against top-seeded and eventual conference winner UC Irvine in the semifinal round.
Kendall Thomas,
Caroline Christl and
Courtney Okumura also earned ACWPC All-America Honorable Mention.
Sofia Munatones and
Sydney Munatones joined that trio in gaining Big West postseason recognition.
2024 CWPA NATIONAL POLL
(1/31/24)
1. USC
2. California
3. UCLA
4. Hawai'i
5. Fresno State
T-6. UC Irvine
T-6. Stanford
8. Princeton
9. UC San Diego
10. Michigan
11. Loyola Marymount
12. UC Santa Barbara
13. Long Beach State
14. Arizona State
15. Indiana
T-16. Pacific
T-16. UC Davis
18. Harvard
19. San Jose State
20. Wagner
21. Long Island University
22. San Diego State
T-23. CSUN
T-23. Biola
25. Pomona-Pitzer
Receiving votes: Brown, Marist
UC SAN DIEGO IN THE 2024 CWPA NATIONAL POLL
Week 2 (1/31): 9
Week 1 (1/24): 10
Preseason (1/11): 10
HEAD COACH BRAD KREUTZKAMP
Brad Kreutzkamp is in his 15th season as head coach of the UC San Diego women's water polo program in 2024. In 14 seasons at the helm, Kreutzkamp has led UC San Diego to eight Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) championships and eight appearances at the NCAA Championship. He holds an overall record of 278-197 (.585) during his tenure and has been named the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) and WWPA Coach of the Year five times during this stretch.
Full Bio
FOR THE YOUNGER CROWD
Got some young Triton fans in your family? If they are eighth grade or under, check out the
Junior Triton Club. Membership includes a free t-shirt, admission to over 100 UC San Diego home athletic events, and much more!
GEAR HERE
For the latest Triton apparel and accessories, visit the official team store of the Tritons
here.
WHY THE TRITONS?
The Triton is described as the offspring of Poseidon and Amphitrite, a demigod of the sea with a lower part of the body like that of a fish. It is known as a mighty and fierce sea warrior. Given UC San Diego's close proximity to the Pacific Ocean and its connections with the world-famous Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the Triton became our mascot in 1964.
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 84 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.
