The UC San Diego Tritons dominantly opened their season, securing an 11-6 victory over Loyola Marymount on the road in a heated and physical contest. The Tritons set the tone early, jumping out to a 4-1 lead at the end of the first quarter and extending it to 7-2 by halftime, keeping the Lions on their heels for most of the game.  

Sophomore Jackson Edwards (#7) was unstoppable, leading the Tritons with an impressive five-goal performance, making an emphatic statement to start his season. Alex Franz (#16) also had a strong outing, contributing multiple goals while excelling on the ride, forcing key turnovers to keep LMU from settling into their offense.  

It was a milestone night for several Tritons as Gael Gonzalez (#3), Ian Han (#6), and Sam Abel (#25) all found the back of the net for their first career collegiate goals in their debut game. Austin Ortel (#22) orchestrated the offense beautifully, dishing out several assists to help fuel the attack. 

At the faceoff X, Blake Zimmerman (#48) was a game-changer, winning a majority of the draws to maintain possession and momentum for UCSD. His efforts helped the Tritons control the tempo and keep the Lions chasing for most of the night.  

Defensively, Henri Schulz (#9) was a force in the midfield, shutting down transition opportunities and bringing relentless energy to the Triton defense. In the cage, goalie Kian Gulbrandsen (#0) was rock-solid, making crucial saves and commanding the defense to earn Defensive Player of the Game honors alongside Schulz.  

The Tritons' season opener was not only a statement win but also a great start to the season, with contributions coming from all over the field. Next up, UC San Diego will travel back to Los Angeles next Saturday for a big showdown against USC, looking to build on this strong start and continue their winning ways.