SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - The No. 19 UC San Diego women's water polo began 2013 on a high note coming away with a 16-8 win over Santa Clara University to open play at the UCSB Winter Invitational. The Tritons then dropped a 13-6 decision in the evening match to No. 17 Cal State Northridge.

On the offensive front, junior Sarah Lizotte scored a team high seven goals with nine others adding one or more to the team total. Freshman goalie Courtney Miller tallied 12 saves in eight quarters of play.

Game 1
The Tritons where quick to strike, as Lizotte scored just 38 seconds into the game. The tempo slowed for remainder of the first quarter, as matching goals brought the score to 3-2 at the end of the opening eight minutes.

UCSD scored three unanswered goals at the five minute mark as they took a 5-3 advantage in the second, bringing the Tritons to a 8-5 lead over the Broncos at halftime.

The freshman class was represented well in their Triton debut. Julia Kirkland and Alexis Wieseler scored a team high three goals respectively. Lizotte added another three of her own.

The Tritons pressure on the Broncos went the distance, as SCU was scoreless in the fourth quarter, giving UCSD the 16-8 conference win.

Freshman goalkeeper Courtney Miller came up big with ten saves in four quarters of play.

UCSD 3 - 5 - 3 - 5 = 16
SCU 2 - 3 - 4 - 0 = 8
UCSD Goals: Alexis Wieseler (3) Julia Kirkland (3) Sarah Lizotte (3) Haley Kunert (2) Rachel Brooks, Melissa Bartow, Emily McPhee, Leah Gonzales, Jolene Guiliana

Santa Clara Goals: Alison Norris (2) Kaitlin Murphy (2) Erin Sheridan, Julia Peters, Claire Eadington, Laura Burtness

UCSD Saves: Courtney Miller (10)
Santa Clara Saves: June Afshar (10)

Game 2
UCSD kept a close match at the end of the first as they sat at a 2-3 deficit. The Tritons where unable to keep up in the fast pace the Matadors kept in the second half, with eight of their 13 goals coming in the third and fourth quarters.

Lizotte scored four of UCSD's goals while Bartow and Kistler added one apiece.

CSU Northridge's defense and goalie Natalie Averell held the Tritons to scoring just one of eight extra man goal opportunities. The Matadors scored three goals from 6-on-5 plays.

UCSD 2 - 0 - 3 - 1 = 6
CSUN 3 - 2 - 4 - 4 = 13
UCSD Goals: Sarah Lizotte (4) Melissa Bartow, Laurel Kistler
CSUN Goals: Marisa Young (3) Jenny Jamison (3) Kelcie Ferreira (2) Lindsey Nelson, Molly Henehan, Katie Kammer, Melissa Doll, Taitum Herrington

UCSD Saves: Courtney Miller (4)
CSUN Saves: Natalie Averell (9)

The action continues Sunday, Jan. 27 at the Winter Invitational hosted by UC Santa Barbara. UCSD opens play against Sonoma State at 10:20 a.m. followed by an afternoon match up with Claremont-Mudd-Scripps. First sprint is set for 3 p.m.

-- UCSDtritons.com --