4/6/25 - Tritons Top NAU

The UCSD Tritons kept their perfect season alive with a gritty 12-8 victory over conference rival Northern Arizona University (NAU), improving to 11-0 and holding firm as the #1 team in the country. UCSD came out firing on all cylinders, storming to a commanding 7-2 lead by halftime thanks to sharp ball movement and aggressive defense. The attack trio of #22 Austin Ortel, #16 Alex Franz, and #7 Jackson Edwards once again delivered a strong performance, creating opportunities and putting pressure on the NAU defense from the start.

But NAU wasn’t going down without a fight. The Lumberjacks caught fire in the second half, cutting into the Tritons’ lead and turning the game into a tense back-and-forth battle. Fortunately, UCSD held their ground and managed to close out the game late, showing resilience and composure in the face of a conference opponent pushing hard for an upset. #6 Ian Han was unstoppable on offense, burying three spectacular goals and earning MVP honors for his performance. His clutch play kept UCSD ahead when the game tightened up in the second half.

In cage, #2 Kian Gulbrandsen made several jaw-dropping saves, coming up big during crucial moments to keep the Tritons in the lead and frustrate the NAU shooters. Defensively, #11 Max McConville and #14 Trevor Redford were brick walls, locking down their matchups and earning Defensive Players of the Game honors. Their hustle and physical play were key in shutting down NAU's late-game surge.

While the Tritons walked away with another win, this matchup served as a wake-up call. The team knows there’s work to be done and lessons to be learned if they want to keep their perfect season alive. Next up, the Tritons face off against local rival University of San Diego on Saturday, April 12, in what promises to be another high-stakes showdown.