The UC San Diego Tritons secured a statement victory over No. 6 Florida Atlantic, grinding out a 9-6 win in an intense battle that showcased their dominance on both ends of the field. With this win, the Tritons avenged last season’s MCLA Tournament loss to the Owls and continued their perfect start to the season.

UCSD came out firing, jumping to an early 2-0 lead, but the Owls responded with three unanswered goals to take a 3-2 advantage at the end of the first quarter. However, the Tritons found their rhythm in the second quarter and never looked back, controlling the pace and keeping FAU off balance for the rest of the game.

Everything clicked for UCSD as they locked in offensively and defensively. The Tritons hounded the Owls’ top players, making them a nonfactor and shutting down their offensive threats with relentless pressure.

On the offensive side, senior attack Austin Ortel (#22) put on another dominant performance, leading the charge with 3 goals and 3 assists, earning him MCLA Player of the Week honors for his stellar play in Idaho. Sophomore attack Jackson Edwards (#7) was the playmaker, tallying 1 goal and 3 assists, while senior attack Alex Franz (#16) added 2 goals.

Senior midfielder Santiago Zachman (#88) delivered in crunch time, scoring two goals, including the dagger that sealed the win. Junior midfielder Adam Lapinski (#17), who battled a foot sprain to start the season, continued his strong return by adding another goal in his first full weekend back on the field.

The Triton defense was outstanding once again, completely neutralizing FAU’s offense and forcing tough shots all game long. Junior Billy Mack (#4), junior Max McConville (#11), sophomore Dom Gonta (#15), freshman Sam Abel (#25), senior Calvin Hsu (#23), junior Natan Benveniste (#18), and senior Trevor Redford (#14) all played key roles in the defensive stand, with Redford earning the game ball for his performance.

Freshman goalie Kian Gulbrandsen (#2) continued his incredible season, making 20 saves with a 77% save percentage, earning him MCLA Goalie of the Week honors for his stellar play throughout the Idaho trip.

Now at 5-0, the Tritons are riding high and looking to carry this momentum into a challenging week ahead. They are set to face Virginia Tech before taking on the ultimate test—a showdown against No. 1 Air Force. UCSD has proven they can compete with the best, and they’ll look to keep their undefeated streak alive against some of the toughest competition in the country.