In a tough road matchup, the UC San Diego Tritons fell to the Cal State San Marcos Cougars 17-14 in a highly physical and emotionally charged game. Playing in a hostile environment, the Tritons struggled to find their rhythm, losing key battles on the ground and suffering from multiple defensive miscommunications that ultimately cost them the game.

Despite the loss, there were standout performances from senior attackman Alex Franz (#16) and junior midfielder Ian Han (#6), who each scored several clutch goals to keep UCSD within striking distance throughout the game. Their leadership and resilience were bright spots in an otherwise tough outing.

With the regular season now complete, the Tritons finish 12-1 and shift their focus to the postseason. The SLC Playoffs begin this Saturday in Santa Barbara, where UCSD will face off against the Arizona Christian Firestorm in the opening round.

Looking ahead, the Tritons are eager for a potential rematch with CSUSM in the conference championship on Sunday, an opportunity for redemption they’ve been eyeing since the final whistle of this recent loss. There’s plenty for UCSD to clean up, but the team remains confident in their ability to bounce back, regroup, and chase the program’s first-ever conference title.