CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - It was a solid start for UC San Diego Women's Water Polo Saturday at Harvard's Crimson Classic as the Tritons earned victories over Villanova and Princeton.
UC San Diego, ranked 11th nationally, topped Villanova 15-10 this morning and returned to Blodgett Pool in the afternoon to take down No. 8 Princeton, 14-11.Â
With the pair of wins, the Tritons are now an even 6-6 on the season.Â
For a complete schedule and results of the event, visit the
tournament page.
HOW IT HAPPENED v VILLANOVA
The Tritons had a productive first half against the Wildcats, scoring six times in the opening quarter. Another four goals in the second frame gave UC San Diego a 10-4 lead at the half. Villanova won the second half 6-5, but it wasn't enough to catch the Tritons.
Caroline Christl led UC San Diego with four goals.
Lucia Doak added three while
Abby Moll and
Kendall Thomas each scored twice. Four other Tritons provided single goals.
In goal,
Lexi Stahl kept watch in the first half and
Bria Zwaschka took second half duties.
Villanova scored the game's first goal just 15 seconds in. However, UC San Diego owned the next three goals and would hold a lead the rest of the way. Christl converted on a power play and was followed by Doak and Thomas.
Christl ended up recording a hat trick in the first quarter.
To close out the second quarter,
Abby Moll tallied back-to-back goals, one coming on a power play. Doak was up to the challenge and began the third quarter with consecutive goals.
HOW IT HAPPENED v PRINCETON
The Tritons came out on fire, out-scoring the Tigers 7-2 in the first quarter.
Abigail Schechter scored three of her four goals in the game in the opening quarter - all three in succession.
Princeton mounted a comeback over the next two quarters, out-scoring the Tritons 3-2 and 4-2.Â
A goal by the Tigers at 3:42 of the third quarter cut UC San Diego's lead to just two at 9-7. Princeton got back within a pair two more times at 11-9 and 12-10.
The Tritons then netted back-to-goals courtesy of Schechter and
Kendall Thomas. Those two goals gave UC San Diego a comfortable four-goal lead at 14-10 with 2:01 left on the clock.
Princeton was able to add a final goal with 16 seconds in the game but it wasn't enough.
Lexi Stahl took the victory after playing three quarters.
WHAT HEAD COACH BRAD KREUTZKAMP HAD TO SAY
"Coming back east and playing some great competition has always been a test for us. I'm super stoked on how we responded in both games. Our depth and speed truly made a difference. We continue to score goals at a good clip but certainly need to tighten down our defense. Lexi had two gigantic penalty shot saves, and those were clutch. It doesn't get any easier tomorrow with two more awesome opponents on our travel day. The games will definitely be a test of our character."
TRITON TIDBITS
•
Lucia Doak led the Tritons with seven goals on the day.
•
Kendall Thomas has an 11-game scoring streak going and she has scored in all but one game this season.
•
Caroline Christl is riding a six-game scoring streak.
• Doak has scored at least once in her last five games.
• Doak has totaled 10 goals over her last three games with two hat tricks plus today's four-goal performance against Princeton.
•
Abigail Schechter's four goals against Princeton were a career-high.
• The team visited storied Fenway Park, home of the nine-time World Champion Boston Red Sox.
UP NEXT
UC San Diego rounds out its time at the Crimson Classic Sunday. The Tritons play host and 18th-ranked Harvard at 6 a.m. Pacific and close out against No. 25 Long Island University at 11 a.m. Pacific.
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.
