In one of the most anticipated matchups of the season, #2 UC San Diego took down #1 Air Force in a thrilling 12-10 battle on a rainy, foggy night in San Diego. Both teams entered the game undefeated, but it was the Tritons who emerged victorious, proving their resilience and determination against a Falcons squad stacked with former NCAA Division I talent.

The game began with a promising start for UCSD, as junior midfielder Ian Han (#6) struck first to put the Tritons on the board. However, Air Force quickly took control, showcasing their experience and firepower to dominate the rest of the first half. The Falcons went on a six-goal run, suffocating the Tritons on both ends and heading into halftime with a commanding 6-1 lead.

Whatever was said in the UCSD locker room at halftime clearly worked. The Tritons came out firing in the second half, capitalizing on a man-up opportunity as senior attackman Austin Ortel (#22) ignited the comeback with a goal. The momentum continued to shift as senior midfielder Santiago Zachman (#88), senior attackman Alex Franz (#16), and sophomore attackman Jackson Edwards (#7) found the back of the net, bringing the Tritons within striking distance at 8-5 heading into the fourth quarter.

The final frame was a masterpiece for UCSD. Junior face-off specialist Blake Zimmerman (#48) controlled possession, allowing the Tritons to dictate the tempo. Sophomore midfielder Thomas Kenyon (#1) kick-started the rally with a goal, followed by two more from the electric Edwards and one from junior Noah Skinner (#19). Suddenly, UCSD had scored four unanswered goals, swinging the lead in their favor.

Air Force showed why they were the top-ranked team, responding with two clutch goals to knot the game at 9-9 with just five minutes to play. But the Tritons refused to back down. Edwards delivered once again, scoring his fourth goal of the night off a beautiful assist from Skinner to reclaim the lead.

The final minutes belonged to UCSD’s defense. Senior defenseman Trevor Redford (#14) led a lockdown unit that included junior defenseman Billy Mack (#4), sophomore defenseman Dom Gonta, junior long-stick midfielder Max McConville (#11), defensive midfielders Henri Schulz (#9) and Sam Abel (#25), and senior defenders Chris Franz (#8), Calvin Hsu (#23), and Natan Benveniste (#18). Freshman goalie Kian Gulbransen (#2) was nothing short of phenomenal, making multiple clutch saves to preserve the lead.

With just over a minute left, junior midfielder Gael Gonzalez (#3) added an insurance goal to make it 11-9. Moments later, Edwards sealed the game with his fifth tally of the night, assisted by Ortel. Air Force managed to grab one last goal, but it wasn’t enough, as UCSD ran out the clock to secure a historic 12-10 win.

The victory marked a defining moment for the Tritons, who proved that heart, hustle, and resilience could overcome even the most talented opponents. With this win, UCSD is on the verge of earning the program’s first-ever #1 ranking, a testament to the entire team’s contributions and never-say-die attitude.

A battle for the ages, and a night to remember in Triton lacrosse history.