LA JOLLA, Calif. – Visiting Pepperdine got a goal late in the first half to spoil UC San Diego's home opener, as the Waves (2-1) blanked the Tritons (0-3), 1-0, Thursday afternoon inside Triton Soccer Stadium.
HOW IT HAPPENED
UC San Diego controlled possession early and got several good looks at the net. The Tritons had four of the first six shots on goal in the match while earning the first two corner kicks over the first 20-plus minutes. However, Pepperdine kept the match scoreless thanks to a couple of strong saves from goalkeeper Jillian Medvecky.
Pepperdine broke through in the 37th minute as Ava Verplancke collected a rebound and fired it into the back of the net to give the visitors a 1-0 lead at the break.
The Waves had another strong scoring chance in the 64th minute but
Ginny Fronk made an impressive save. The ball caromed back to Pepperdine but junior
Allie Luo prevented a Waves goal with an impressive block to keep the Tritons within striking distance.
Pepperdine out-shot UC San Diego, 18-13, on the afternoon. Each team had three corner kicks.
TRITON TIDBITS
- UC San Diego sophomore goalkeeper Ginny Fronk made a season high five saves.
- UC San Diego midfielder Kailey Park was issued a yellow card in the 36', her first and the team's third of the season.
- Pepperdine now leads the series 4-0 between these two sides, with all four meetings coming in Division I.
- The Tritons wore their new white kits Thursday afternoon with Fronk in baby blue.
QUOTABLE
UP NEXT
UC San Diego remains home to host Nevada on Sunday at 2 p.m. Admission is free. The match also airs live on ESPN+ with live stats 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 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.
