LA JOLLA, Calif. -Â The final week of the regular season sees the 16th-ranked UC San Diego women's water polo team play a pair of matches on the road.
Thursday, the Tritons (10-11, 2-4)Â head across town for the annual Harper Cup against No. 17 San Diego State (16-9), this year hosted by the Aztecs. It will be the 24th running of the event with UC San Diego looking for its 10th consecutive victory in the series.
Saturday, the Tritons are at Big West opponent UC Santa Barbara (1-17, 0-6). The game will be played at Santa Barbara High School.
Currently, UC San Diego sits in sixth place in the Big West, while the Gauchos are last in eighth. Seedings for the Big West Championship, set for April 10-12 at Long Beach State, will be set following Saturday's action.
Both games can be followed with live stats (links below).Â
INSIDE THE GAMES
--- Game 22: Harper Cup ---
• No. 16 UC San Diego (10-11) at No. 17Â
San Diego State (16-9)
• Thursday / April 2 / 4 p.m. Pacific
•
Aztec Aquaplex
•
FOSH Live Stats
--- Game 23: Big West ---
• No. 16 UC San Diego (10-11, 2-4) at NRÂ
UC Santa Barbara (1-17, 0-6)
• Saturday / April 4 / 12 p.m. Pacific
•
Santa Barbara High School | 700 East Anapamu St. Santa Barbara, CA. 93103
•
FOSH Live Stats
THE TEAMS
| UC SAN DIEGO TRITONS |
SAN DIEGO STATE AZTECS |
UC SANTA BARBARAÂ GAUCHOS |
| Roster | Schedule | Stats |
Roster | Schedule | Stats |
Roster | Schedule | Stats |
| Location: La Jolla, Calif. |
Location: San Diego, Calif. |
Location: Santa Barbara, Calif. |
| Conference: Big West |
Conference:Â Golden Coast |
Conference: Big West |
| Overall: 10-11 |
Overall: 16-9 |
Overall: 1-17 |
| Big West: 2-4 |
Golden Coast: 4-2 |
Big West: 0-6 |
| Home: 3-8 |
Home: 7-2 |
Home: 0-3 |
| Away: 2-3 |
Away: 3-3 |
Away: 0-6 |
| Neutral: 5-0 |
Neutral: 6-4 |
Neutral: 1-8 |
| Streak: 1Â win |
Streak: 1 win |
Streak: 15 losses |
| CWPA National Rank: 16 |
CWPAÂ National Rank: 17 |
CWPA National Rank: NR |
| Big West Preseason Poll: 4th of 8 |
Golden Coast Preseason Poll: 4th of 7 |
Big West Preseason Poll: 6th of 8 |
THE HARPER CUP HISTORY
• All-Time Series: San Diego State leads 13-10
• Last Meeting: 4/18/25, UC San Diego wins 18-16 in La Jolla
• First Meeting: 4/19/02: San Diego State wins 8-7 in La Jolla
• Last San Diego State Win: 4/18/15, 6-3 in San Diego
• Current Streak: UC San Diego 9 wins
• At UC San Diego: Series tied 6-6
• At San Diego State: San Diego State leads 7-4
• UC San Diego Goals Scored: 169
• San Diego State Goals Scored: 195
2025: San Diego State 16, UC San Diego 18
2024: UC San Diego 12, San Diego State 10
2023: San Diego State 9, UC San Diego 10
2022: UC San Diego 13, San Diego State 8
2021: San Diego State 7, UC San Diego 10
2020: Game canceled due to pandemic
2019: UC San Diego 9, San Diego State 5
2018: San Diego State 5, UC San Diego 6
2017: UC San Diego 10, San Diego State 6
2016: San Diego State 5, UC San Diego 6 (SD)
2015: UC San Diego 3, San Diego State 6
2014: San Diego State 5, UC San Diego 8
2013: UC San Diego 4, San Diego State 6
2012: San Diego State 10, UC San Diego 5
2011: UC San Diego 7, San Diego State 15
2010: San Diego State 11, UC San Diego 3
2009: UC San Diego 7, San Diego State 14
2008: San Diego State 6, UC San Diego 5
2007: UC San Diego 8, San Diego State 10
2006: San Diego State 6, UC San Diego 5
2005: UC San Diego 4, San Diego State 9
2004: San Diego State 9, UC San Diego 4
2003: UC San Diego 5, San Diego State 9
2002: San Diego State 8, UC San Diego 7
SENIORS DELIVER
The three senior Tritons -
Allie Bartholomew,
Sofia Munatones, and
Sydney Munatones - were on fire in the Senior Day game against Brown this past Saturday. The trio combined for 18 points with 10 goals and eight assists. Sydney racked up a career high eight points with three goals and five assists, which matched her career best for helpers as well. The Huntington Beach native also drew four exclusions. Allie followed with a career high six points from three goals and three assists. Her goal total was also a career high. Sofia, twin sister to Sydney, had four goals, one short of her high mark for a single game.
TRITON ROSTER DETAILS
Players Returning (16)
•
Allie Bartholomew, ATT
•
Ally Bone, ATT
•
Kyla Bruhn, ATT
•
Evelyn Burns, UT
•
Emily Cloherty, ATT
•
Makana Fake, GK
•
Paedrin Gillett, GK
•
Zoe Grover, ATT
•
Maddie McMahon, ATT
•
Sofia Munatones, ATT
•
Sydney Munatones, ATT
•
Olivia Obando, UT
•
Holly Roberts, UT
•
Abigail Schechter, ATT
•
Cascade Stensland, UT
•
Bria Zwaschka, GK
Players Lost (8)
•
Caroline Christl, UT
•
Lucia Doak, CD
•
Sila Fedler, UT
•
Kenzie Larson, ATT
•
Abby Moll, ATT
•
Courtney Okumura, ATT
•
Lexi Stahl, GK
•
Kendall Thomas, C
Newcomers (8)
•
Kendra Ammon, ATT
•
Alex Anghera, UT
•
Kenya Cassidy, ATT
•
Anna Fazioli, ATT
•
Alexa Kraaijvanger, UT
•
Nola Palestrant, GK
•
Berkley Sinner, CÂ
•
Caitlin Stayt, ATT
SCHECHTERÂ NAMED TO CUTINO AWARD WATCH LIST
UC San Diego junior
Abigail Schechter was selected to the Cutino Award Watch List on Thursday, March 26. The Peter J. Cutino Award, named in honor of the late Hall of Fame coach, recognizes the best player in women's and men's college water polo each year. The top 20 athletes, as submitted by varsity college coaches, have been recognized for their outstanding play. While it's possible the 2026 Cutino Award winner will come from watch list, the list is completely independent from the nomination and voting process. The watch list was created in 2022 to help promote the college game, awareness of the award, and the excellent play of athletes across the country.
BIG WEST STANDINGS (through 4/1)
| Team |
Big West |
Overall |
| Hawai'i |
5-0 |
12-5 |
| Long Beach State |
5-1 |
14-10 |
| UC Davis |
4-2 |
13-12 |
| UC Irvine |
4-2 |
12-12 |
| CSUN |
2-3 |
17-7 |
| UC San Diego |
2-4 |
10-11 |
| Cal State Fullerton |
1-5 |
17-13 |
| UC Santa Barbara |
0-6 |
1-17 |
TRITON RECORDS (through 4/1)
| Overall |
10-11 |
| Big West |
2-4 |
| Non-conference |
8-7 |
| At home |
3-8 |
| On the road |
2-3 |
| At at neutral site |
5-0 |
| In overtime |
0-0 |
| Scoring 0-6Â goals |
0-1 |
| Scoring 7-9 goals |
0-3 |
| Scoring 10-12 goals |
3-6 |
| Scoring 13-15 goals |
3-1 |
| Scoring 16-18 goals |
1-0 |
| Scoring 19-20 goals |
1-0 |
| Scoring 21-plus goals |
2-0 |
| On Wednesdays |
0-1 |
| On Thursdays |
0-0 |
| On Fridays |
1-3 |
| On Saturdays |
6-5 |
| On Sundays |
3-2 |
| vs. Ranked Teams |
7-11 |
| vs. Un-ranked Teams |
3-0 |
MULTIPLE GOAL GAMES (through 4/1)
GAME-WINNING GOALS (through 4/1
CURRENT SCORING STREAKS (through 4/1)
•
Emily Cloherty, 7 games
•
Abigail Schechter, 7 games
•
Cascade Stensland, 7 games
•
Sofia Munatones, 3 games
•
Evelyn Burns, 2 games
TRITONS IN THE BIG WESTÂ (through 4/1)
Â
| CWPA NATIONAL POLL (4/1) |
2026 BIG WEST PRESEASON POLL |
| 1. USC |
1. Hawai'i (5 first-place notes) |
| 2. Stanford |
2. Long Beach State (2) |
| 3. UCLA |
3. UC Irvine (1) |
| 4. California |
tie-4. UC San Diego |
| 5. Arizona State |
tie-4 UC Davis |
| 6. Hawai'i |
6. UC Santa Barbara |
| 7. Loyola Marymount |
7. CSUN |
| 8. Long Beach State |
8. Cal State Fullerton |
| 9. UC Irvine |
|
| 10. Indiana |
|
| 11. Harvard |
|
| tie-12. Fresno State |
|
| tie-12. Michigan |
|
| tie-12. Princeton |
|
| 15. UC Davis |
|
| 16. UC San Diego |
|
| 17. San Diego State |
|
| 18. Marist |
|
| 19. San Jose State |
|
| 20. Pacific |
|
| 21. California Baptist |
|
| 22. Wagner |
|
| tie-23. Brown |
|
| tie-23. Villanova |
|
| 25. CSUN |
|
|
|
| 13,13,12,13,14,14,14,16,15,16 |
|
Â
2025Â AWARDS
• Kendall Thomas: ACWPC All-America Third Team, All-Big West First Team
• Caroline Christl: ACWPC All-America Honorable Mention,
 All-Big West First Team
•
Courtney Okumura: All-Big West Honorable Mention
•
Holly Roberts: Big West All-Freshman Team
UC SAN DIEGO TO HOST 2026 NATIONAL COLLEGIATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
UC San Diego will serve as host of the 2026 NCAA National Collegiate Women's Water Polo Championship. Canyonview Aquatic Center will welcome the top teams in the country, starting with a play-in game on Wednesday, April 22. Quarterfinals will take place on Friday, April 22, semis will be held Saturday, April 23, and the title game is set for Sunday, April 24. Ticket info and other specifics are forthcoming.
LIZOTTEÂ EARNSÂ HEAD COACH ROLE
Four-time Triton All-American Sarah Lizotte was named head coach of the UC San Diego Women's Water Polo Team in August of 2025. Lizotte was an assistant coach with the program for the 2025Â season, which saw the Tritons go 17-14 overall and 4-3 in the Big West. The squad advanced to the conference championship semifinal round for the fourth-straight year.
A marquis player for UC San Diego between 2011 and 2014, Lizotte is the program's all-time leader in goals and assists. The Riverside, Calif., native earned Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) First Team All-America status following each of her seasons. The Tritons won Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) titles in 2011, 2013, and 2014 and advanced to the NCAA tournament in each of those seasons.
Prior to returning to La Jolla, Lizotte spent a year as an assistant coach with the men's and women's programs at UCLA. In 2024, her guidance as a coach helped the Bruins win a national title.
Lizotte graduated from UC San Diego in 2014 with a degree in Communications. She also minored in Business at UCSD's Rady School of Business.
WELCOME BACK NICK
Two-time Triton All-American Nick Alexander returned to UC San Diego in the fall of 2025 as an assistant coach with the women's water polo program..
Most recently, Alexander served as the Technical Director and Age Group head coach for the Clovis Water Polo Club in California's Central Valley, a position he held since 2017. He was responsible for tailoring coaching methods through skill assessments, ensuring positive learning experiences and development. His teams posted top-12 finishes at Junior Olympics on an annual basis.
As a four-year scholar-athlete at UC San Diego, Alexander earned First Team All-America accolades in 2015 and again as a senior captain in 2016. He helped the Tritons lock down two NCAA Quarterfinal appearances as well as three Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) titles. In 2015, Alexander merited WWPA Championship MVP honors. He was also a two-time All-WWPA and All-WWPA Championship player.
Alexander graduated from UC San Diego in 2016 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications. He held minors in Business and Sociology. A three-time Academic All-American, he founded the NCAA Division I Student Leadership Group and was a member of the Triton Athletic Council. Alexander earned a Master's Degree in Kinesiology from Fresno Pacific in 2020. (full bio)
CRAWFORD HEADING TO THE HALL
Former UC San Diego women's water polo standout Carin Crawford will be inducted into the USA Water Polo Hall of Fame this June. A multiple-time All-American for the Tritons, Crawford is also the all-time winningest coach in San Diego State University history. Crawford graduated cum laude from UC San Diego in 1989 and returned to earn her master's degree in U.S. history in 1992, while also competing on the U.S. National Team. (
complete story)
ON THE MOVE
After 20 seasons playing as an NCAA Division II team, the entire UC San Diego athletics program has completed a four-year transition to NCAA Division I, culminating in full DI status as a member of theÂ
Big West Conference for the 2024-25 academic year. All UC San Diego sports are now eligible for conference and NCAA postseason play.
UCSD ACCEPTS INVITE TO JOIN WCC
On Sept. 3, 2025, UC San Diego accepted a formal invitation to join theÂ
West Coast Conference (WCC) and will begin competing in the conference starting with the 2027-28 season. In 2027-28, the WCC membership will consist of: University of California San Diego, Loyola Marymount University, University of the Pacific, Pepperdine University, University of Portland, Saint Mary's College, University of San Diego, University of San Francisco, Santa Clara University, and Seattle University. UC San Diego will become the first public institution in the West Coast Conference since the departure of the University of Nevada-Reno in 1979.Â
(complete press release)
FOR THE YOUNGER CROWD
Got some young Triton fans in your family? If they are eighth grade or under, check out theÂ
Junior Triton Club. Membership includes a free t-shirt, admission to over 100 UC San Diego home athletic events, and much more!
GEAR HERE
For the latest Triton apparel and accessories, visit the official team store of the TritonsÂ
here.
WHY THE TRITONS?
The Triton is described as the offspring of Poseidon and Amphitrite, a demigod of the sea with a lower part of the body like that of a fish. It is known as a mighty and fierce sea warrior. Given UC San Diego's close proximity to the Pacific Ocean and its connections with the world-famous Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the Triton became our mascot in 1964.
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.
