LA JOLLA, Calif. — A goal in the 89th minute from Keenai Braun gave Triton men's soccer a 2-2 draw in Friday's exhibition match with Arizona Western. Freshman Masa Fujita also scored for the Tritons, who were playing at home for the first time in 2025.
 
All five of the Tritons' shots on goal came in the second half. The home side finished with 61% of the possession. Arizona Western had an eight-to-five edge in shots on target and also committed 14 fouls to the Tritons' nine.
 
The Matadors got two early goals off giveaways by the Tritons in the back. The first came from the top of the box in the ninth minute, with the second tapped home at close range in the 17th after an initial shot was saved by Triton goalkeeper Nicolas Thiele.
 
The Tritons upped the intensity after the break, with their increased pressure rewarded in the 51st minute as Fujita headed home a corner kick from Michael Luechauer. The corner was earned after a shot by Ryan Namdar was saved by the Matador goalkeeper.
 
Braun's equalizer came off a free kick, which was won after Arizona Western picked up its third yellow card of the evening. The ensuing restart was headed over to Sagar Patel, who got a shot on target. The freshman's effort was saved into the path of Braun, who fired in the rebound.
 
UC San Diego's final tune-up match ahead of the new season will be tomorrow, August 16. The Tritons host LMU at 7:00 p.m. from Triton Soccer Stadium. Admission for all home Triton soccer matches is free.
 
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.