4/26/25 - Tritons Advance to SLC Championship

The UC San Diego Tritons secured a dominant 12-3 victory over the Arizona Christian Firestorm at La Playa Stadium, located at the beautiful Santa Barbara City College campus. With clear skies and perfect weather setting the stage, the Tritons jumped out to an early lead and never looked back. UCSD led 9-3 at halftime, fueled by an explosive offense and relentless defensive pressure. In the second half, the Triton defense locked down completely, holding ACU scoreless for the final two quarters.

Junior midfielder Noah Skinner (#19) was unstoppable, scoring multiple goals and dishing out several assists to earn Offensive Player of the Game honors. The Firestorm had no answer for his dynamic play. Freshman goalie Kian Gulbrandsen (#2) anchored the defense with an outstanding performance, allowing only three goals and making several remarkable saves that left the Santa Barbara crowd in awe. His composure on clears and critical stops earned him Defensive Player of the Game.

Senior attackman Alex Franz (#16) found the back of the net multiple times, including a highlight-reel goal that rifled into the top left corner. Sophomore attack Jackson Edwards (#7) contributed effectively on the offensive end, while sophomore midfielder Thomas Kenyon (#1) brought crucial energy, scoring a momentum-shifting goal and creating key turnovers during the ride. On the defensive side, senior defenseman Trevor Redford (#14) commanded the unit with multiple takeaways and strong leadership throughout the game.

With this commanding win, the Tritons advance to the SLC Championship, where they will face their rival, Cal State San Marcos, in a highly anticipated rematch.