4/12/25 - UCSD Takes Down USD on Saturday Night

The UC San Diego Tritons traveled across town and took care of business in a hard-fought 14–8 win over the University of San Diego Toreros. Despite the final scoreline, this one didn’t come easy.

The Tritons came out sluggish, with a slow and sloppy first half that saw USD take advantage of uncharacteristic mistakes. But after regrouping at halftime, UCSD came out with a different level of intensity and urgency—completely flipping the script in the third quarter with a dominant 6–0 run that ultimately put the game out of reach.

This matchup served as a wake-up call for the Tritons, who remain undefeated at 12–0. The team acknowledged that when they bring the right energy—both on the sideline and on the field—they’re capable of being the best team in the country. That mentality will be critical heading into their biggest test of the season next week against bitter rivals Cal State San Marcos.

Junior midfielder #6 Ian Han continued to shine, putting up several key goals and setting up his teammates with a handful of smooth assists. The attack unit of #22 Austin Ortel, #16 Alex Franz, and #7 Jackson Edwards put together another productive outing, keeping the pressure on the Toreros’ defense all afternoon.

Defensively, #4 Billy Mack, a junior defenseman, was a force—earning player of the game honors with multiple takeaways and clears, consistently making momentum-shifting plays. Freshman LSM #24 Sebastian Pierce brought the fire all game long, earning the coveted "Hard Hat Award" for his relentless energy, physicality, and effort between the lines.

With this gritty road win behind them, the Tritons will shift their focus to San Marcos as they prepare for a rivalry clash with major playoff implications.