THE SCHEDULE
Match 5
at No. 3 USC (0-0)
Friday, Feb. 5 • 5 p.m.
Uytengsu Aquatics Center • Los Angeles
PREVIOUSLY
The Tritons opened their season with a 3-1 record at the UC Santa Barbara Winter Invite on Jan. 23-24. On Saturday, Jan. 23 UCSD defeated APU 15-7 before escaping with a narrow 10-9 win over CSUN. The following day on Jan. 24, the Tritons took hung on to defeat CSU Bakersfield 8-7 before falling to host, UCSB 10-9. Alexis Wieseler ended the two-day tournament with 13 goals.
UC San Diego 15, Azusa Pacific 7
UC San Diego 10, CSUN 9
UC San Diego 8, CSU Bakersfield 7
UC Santa Barbara 10, UC San Diego 9
NATIONAL POLL
The Tritons started the season ranked 21st in the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) national rankings. UCSD was rated as high as 18th and currently sits in the No. 19 spot. To view the complete rankings, click here.
GET TO KNOW THE 2016 TRITONS
Brad Kreutzkamp is in his seventh year as the head coach of the women's water polo team. The Tritons have 23 California natives on their roster, with Courtney Miller (Honolulu, HI) and Lauren Boyer (Honolulu, HI) being the only players from out of state. UCSD welcome 10 newcomers to the team, all of them are freshman. Three Tritons are local products: Halley Atkinson (Escondido/Mission Hills HS), Colleen Ratcliff (Jamul/Valhalla HS), Emma Sasson (San Diego/Rancho Bernardo HS). To check out the roster and read about the Tritons, click here.
WHO'S BACK, WHO'S NOT
The Tritons return several decorated players for their 2016 campaign, including three All-Americans. Goalkeeper Courtney Miller, a three-time All-American, three-time All-WWPA and the 2015 ACWPC Division II Co-Player of the Year, is back in the cage for her senior season. Miller currently holds the school record in career (1,131) and single-season (402) saves.
The Tritons also return All-American Laurel Kistler, who led the team in goals and steals last season with 68 and 64, respectively. All-American Julia Kirkland is also back for UCSD. The attacker currently sits in 10th in all-time goals scored with 161 and was second on the team in scoring last season with 63 goals. Alexis Wieseler, who had 72 goals in 2013, returns after having her 2015 campaign cut short due to injury. Also set to return are Lauren Boyer, who amassed 44 scores and 24 steals, and Lani Tittle, who compiled 39 goals, 32 helpers and 56 steals, in 2015.
The Tritons did lose a key player in Jolene Guiliana. The former Triton was named an All-American in 2014 and 2015 and was responsible for 58 goals, 56 assists and 47 steals.
MILESTONES
Courtney Miller sits atop the career saves list with 1,169 ... Miller also has the top three single season saves with 402 (2015), 374 (2013) and 355 (2014) ... Julia Kirkland is now tied for eighth with Jolene Guiliana in career goals with 169 ... Kirkland is seventh in career attempts with 492 ... Kirkland is four assists away from 10th in career assists, held by Kristen Larson (1988-91) with 99 ... Laurel Kistler is eight shy of the career top-10 assists list with 91 ... Alexis Wieseler is seven goals shy of entering the career top-10 with 160 goals, trailing Melissa Bartow (2011-14) who has 167 ... Lauren Boyer is tied for eighth in career penalties drawn with 18 ... Lauren Finwall sits in 10th in career penalties drawn with 16.
IT'S TRICKY
Three Tritons have combined for a total of five hat tricks so far this season:
Alexis Wieseler (2)
1/24 vs. Azusa Pacific (five goals)
1/25 vs. UC Santa Barbara (four goals)
Lauren Boyer (2)
1/24 vs. CSUN (three goals)
1/25 vs. UC Santa Barbara (three goals)
Julia Kirkland (1)
1/24 vs. Azusa Pacific (four goals)
TRITONS PICKED TO REPEAT AS WWPA CHAMPIONS
UCSD was picked to capture the WWPA title for the fourth straight time and fifth in the last six years according to the WWPA Women's Preseason Coaches' Poll.
The Tritons received five first-place votes for a total of 25 points. Cal State East Bay was picked to finish second after receiving one first-place vote for a total of 20 points. Sonoma State, Cal State Monterey Bay, Mercyhurst and Gannon rounded out the poll in third through sixth, respectively.
Institution (First Place Votes) Points
1. UC San Diego (5) 25
2. Cal State East Bay (1) 20
3. Sonoma State 17
4. Cal State Monterey Bay 14
5. Mercyhurst 9
6. Gannon 5
FORMER TRITON STAR KIM HOCKETT ADDED TO COACHING STAFF
The Tritons named former standout Kim Hockett as the newest addition to their coaching staff. Hockett was a team co-captain, two-time All-American and the 2008 Division II Player of the Year during her time at UCSD. She graduated in 2008 with two bachelor's degrees in history and religious studies. Hockett was a four-year player for the Tritons (2004-08) as a goalkeeper amassing 635 saves, sixth most all-time. She was a two-time All-Wester Water Polo Association (WWPA) honoree and two-time All-American. During her senior season, in 2008, she compiled 305 saves, currently fifth most for a single season, and took home the Division II Player of the Year Award. Hockett played water polo overseas from 2008-10 for Rillieux (2008-09) in Lyon, France and ASPTT Nancy (2009-10) in Nancy, France.
HEAD COACH BRAD KREUTZKAMP
UCSD head coach Brad Kreutzkamp starts his seventh season leading the Tritons. In his six seasons at the helm, Kreutzkamp has led UCSD to four WWPA championships and four appearances at the NCAA Championship. The Tritons are 132-103 overall during his tenure. During the 2015 season, Kreutzkamp led his team to its third straight WWPA title and fourth in five years with a 10-8 victory over Cal State East Bay. The Tritons made their fourth NCAA appearance, finishing eighth at the championship. Kreutzkamp came to UCSD as an assistant coach with the women's team in 1999 before joining longtime head coach Denny Harper on the men's staff the following season. Prior to his arrival on the La Jolla campus, Kreutzkamp was the head coach of both the boy's and girl's varsity programs at Grossmont High School from 1996-99.
ABOUT THE TROJANS
USC is currently ranked third in the latest CWPA national poll. Friday's game will be the season opener for the Trojans. USC returns Stephania Haralabidis, Ioanna Haralabidis and Melissa Bergesen, who scored 64, 50 and 37 goals, respectively, in 2015. The Trojans also welcome back All-American goalkeeper Victoria Chamorro, who had a 5.16 goals against average last season. Head coach Jovan Vavic is in his 22nd year at the helm.
SERIES HISTORY
The Tritons are 7-10 all-time against USC. The Trojans dropped the Tritons 14-5 at the UC Irvine Invitational in 2011, the last time the two teams played each other.
GEAR HERE
UCSD Athletics has partnered with Advanced-Online to provide a web-based, on-demand option for UCSD apparel and merchandise. Fans have access to over 600 products that can be processed and shipped within 24 hours. Visit the site at UCSDTritonsGear.com.
SOCIAL MEDIA
UCSD Athletics on Facebook (UCSDtritons)
UCSD Athletics on Instagram (UCSDtritons)
UCSD Athletics on Twitter (@UCSDtritons)
UCSD Athletics on YouTube (UCSDathletics)
Coach Kreutzkamp on Twitter (@UCSDcoachK)
UCSD Women's Water Polo on Instagram (@ucsdwwp)
UP NEXT
UCSD will welcome Cal State East Bay on Feb. 12 at 6 p.m. before hosting the two-day Triton Invitational on Feb. 13-14.
#TritonsRising
