LAS VEGAS — UC San Diego earned a 2-1 victory over UNLV Thursday evening at Peter Johann Memorial Field, improving to 2-1-0 on the season. The Tritons' defense held strong throughout the match, allowing just one goal while goalkeeper
Charlotte Wilfert recorded three saves.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Both teams came out attacking early, with UNLV creating several chances in the opening minutes. UC San Diego goalkeeper
Charlotte Wilfert turned aside the early pressure to keep the match scoreless.
The Tritons broke through in the 11th minute when
Ava Tibor converted a penalty kick at the 10:21 mark, giving UC San Diego an early 1-0 advantage. Tibor finished the match with two shots on goal on three total attempts.
UNLV responded in the 27th minute, finding the back of the net at 26:23 to even the match at 1-1.
UC San Diego continued to apply pressure before halftime, including a shot from
Lana Gilligan that was saved. The two teams entered the break tied, 1-1.
The Tritons regained the lead in the second half when
Alexis Nguyen scored at the 75:18 mark. Nguyen's game-winning goal came following sustained UC San Diego pressure and was assisted by
Andrea Guillen and
Lana Gilligan.
Nguyen finished with three shots on target, while
Kiki Vostermans also tested the UNLV defense as the Tritons continued to create opportunities in the second half.
UNLV pushed for an equalizer late, but UC San Diego's defense held firm to secure the 2-1 road victory.
TRITON TIDBITS
- Ava Tibor recorded her eighth career goal, tying for third-most in UC San Diego Division I program history.
- Alexis Nguyen scored her fifth career goal.
- Nguyen finished with three shots on target.
- Lana Gilligan recorded an assist on the game-winning goal.
- Charlotte Wilfert made three saves while allowing just one goal.
- UC San Diego's 2-1-0 start marks the best three-match start in program history during the Tritons' NCAA Division I era.
QUOTABLE
"Just beyond proud of the girls for the effort that they showed under the conditions with the heat and the travel. We talked before the game that it was going to come down to two things: being a good soccer team and having grit and determination to win, and they checked both those boxes today. We had really good moments in the game offensively and defensively, and I think everyone was committed to doing everything they could to win. No excuses were made the whole day. We showed up, did the best we could, and our best was good enough today. If anything, we proved today that we can play in not ideal conditions, and I'm hoping that momentum can take us through the weekend," said UC San Diego head coach
Kristin Jones '04.
UP NEXT
The Tritons continue their road swing Sunday, Aug. 23, traveling to Flagstaff, Ariz., to take on Northern Arizona at 1 p.m. PT.
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 83 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 39 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.
