LA JOLLA, Calif. - Two Tritons registered hat tricks but the 14th-ranked UC San Diego women's water polo team was edged by a single goal, 12-11, by No. 11 Loyola Marymount Friday night at Canyonview Aquatic Center.

The non-conference loss makes UC San Diego 6-5 on the season. The Lions won their fourth-straight game to improve to 11-2.

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HOW IT HAPPENED
Shooting percentage played a big role in the contest. The Tritons scored their 11 goals on 40 shots, a .275 shooting percentage. Conversely, the Lions finished at .414, netting their 12 goals in 29 shots. Both teams had four power play goals and both teams had a five-meter penalty shot goal.

Individually for UC San Diego, Caroline Christl and Kendall Thomas both found the back of the net three times. Annika Arroyo and Lucia Doak each scored twice. Sydney Munatones assisted on three goals while Arroyo and Thomas both had two assists.

Katie Ward got the call in the UC San Diego net. She made seven saves and added a steal.

LMU's Ruth Arino Ruiz was on fire, racking up four goals and four assists in the win. Lior Ben David hauled in six points on a goal and five assists. 

Inbar Geva and Madison Davis split time in goal for the Lions.

Trailing 10-7 after three quarters, UC San Diego made a run of it, out-scoring Loyola Marymount 4-2 in the fourth. Down 12-10 with 1:40 remaining in regulation, Arroyo scored to bring the Tritons back within a single goal. However, with only nine seconds left on the clock, UC San Diego could not find the equalizer.

The Tritons never led in the game. The score was tied just two times at 1-1 and 6-6.

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WHAT HEAD COACH BRAD KREUTZKAMP HAD TO SAY

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UP NEXT
UC San Diego travels to UC Irvine for the Barbara Kalbus Invitational next week. The Tritons open play against No. 5 California on Friday, Feb. 23 at 5 p.m. 

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TRITON TIDBITS
• Caroline Christl has scored in each of her last five games. In fact, she had multiple goals in all five, totaling 14 over the span.
• It was the third appearance in goal for Katie Ward this season. She has recorded complete games in her last two outings.
• The Tritons are 0-4 in one-goal games this season.

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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.