LA JOLLA, Calif. – UC San Diego junior midfielder
Alexis Nguyen scored in the 81st minute to lift the Tritons to a 1-0 senior night victory over visiting UC Santa Barbara Thursday night at Triton Soccer Stadium. The UC San Diego defense stood firm and goalkeeper
Charlotte Wilfert made six saves in posting her ninth clean sheet of the season – a UC San Diego program record in Division I. UC Santa Barbara (12-4-4 overall, 5-2-3 Big West) is second in the conference with 28 goals scored this season and the Gauchos will begin play in the conference postseason championship next week.
The Tritons conclude their season with a 5-6-8 overall mark (3-3-4 in Big West play) after winning their season finale for the third consecutive season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
UC San Diego started its seven seniors, and the Tritons came out with strong energy. Neither team, however, was able to score in the first half. The Gauchos took six shots, and the Tritons four – but each side had only one on frame.
Jenna Grider had the only first half shot on goal for UC San Diego. UCSB earned four corner kicks to one for the home team.
The second half was evenly played and the match seemed destined to be headed for a 1-1 draw. In the 81st minute, Nguyen fired an absolute rocket from the top of the box that blasted into the goal to put UC San Diego on top.
The Gauchos had a chance to equalize in the 83rd minute and Wilfert came up big to keep UCSB out of the net.
TRITON TIDBITS
- Prior to the match, UC San Diego recognized its graduating class: Natalie Abel, Caitlin Wilson, Corinne Wilson, Lauren Rocco, Allie Luo, Talisa Lin, and Lindsey Park.
- Rocco and the Wilson twins all made their first career starts.
- The goal by Alexis Nguyen was her second of the season and third career.
- Triton back Jenna Grider made her sixth consecutive start on the back line, logging all 90 minutes.
- The series is now tied, 2-2-1, between these two sides in NCAA Division I.
- The Tritons wore their navy kits with Wilfert in red.
QUOTABLE
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 in NCAA Division I. The 24-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 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 90 percent, the highest rate among public institutions in NCAA Division I or II. For more information on the Tritons, visit UCSDtritons.com or follow UC San Diego Athletics on social media @UCSDtritons.
