LA JOLLA, Calif. -Â The fourth-seeded UC San Diego women's water polo team begins its postseason Friday at the Big West Championship.
The Tritons face off against fifth-seeded UC Davis in a quarterfinal at noon.
The two teams have gone head-to-head twice already this season with UC San Diego winning both by scores of 11-8 (at UC Irvine's Barbara Kalbus Invitational) and 15-8 (Big West game in Davis).
Friday's victor will meet the winner of the first quarterfinal between top-seeded Hawai'i and eighth-seeded Cal State Fullerton in a semifinal on Saturday at noon.
The other two quarterfinals on Friday feature #3 UC Irvine vs. #6 UC Santa Barbara as well as #2 Long Beach State against #7 CSUN.
The title match-up is slated for Sunday at noon.
There is no live video broadcast for any of the quarterfinals. There will be an ESPN+ stream for the semifinal and final rounds. All games can be followed with FOSH Live Stats.
INSIDE THE GAME
--- Game 30: Big West Conference Quarterfinal ---
• #4 seed UC San Diego (16-13, 4-3) vs. #5 seedÂ
UC Davis (13-14, 3-4)
• Friday / April 25 / 12 p.m. Pacific
•
Anteater Aquatics Complex / Irvine, Calif.
•
Championship Central
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Tickets
•Â
FOSH Live Stats
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Twitter
THE TEAMS
| UC SAN DIEGO TRITONS |
|
UC DAVIS AGGIES |
| Roster | Schedule & Results | Statistics |
|
Roster | Schedule & Results | Statistics |
| Location: La Jolla, Calif. |
|
Location: Davis, Calif. |
| Conference: Big West |
|
Conference: Big West |
| Overall: 16-13 |
|
Overall: 13-14 |
| Big West: 4-3 |
|
Big West: 3-4 |
| Home: 5-6 |
|
Home: 4-3 |
| Away: 3-3 |
|
Away: 3-3 |
| Neutral: 8-4 |
|
Neutral: 6-8 |
| Streak: 2 wins |
|
Streak: 1 win |
| CWPA National Ranking: 12 |
|
CWPA National Ranking: 17 |
| ACWPC National Ranking: 9 |
|
ACWPC Ranking: 17 |
| Big West Preseason Poll: 4th of 8 |
|
Big West Preseason Poll: 5th of 8 |
TRITONS AT THE BIG WEST CHAMPIONSHIP
• Overall: 3-4
•
vs. CSUN: 1-0
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 vs. Hawai'i: 0-2
•Â
vs. UC Davis:Â 2-0
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vs. UC Irvine:Â 0-2
•Â
In Overtime:Â 1-0
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As the No. 2 seed:Â 0-1
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As the No. 4 seed:Â 2-2
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As the No. 5 seed:Â 1-1
• UC San Diego Goals Scored: 78
• Opponent Goals Scored: 85
2024 (Davis, Calif.)
•
Hawai'i 17, UC San Diego 10 (Semifinal)
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UC San Diego 18, CSUN 11 (Quarterfinal)
2023 (Santa Barbara, Calif.)
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UC Irvine 12, UC San Diego 6Â (Semifinal)
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UC San Diego 9, UC Davis 8 (Quarterfinal)
2022 (Honolulu, Hawai'i)
•Â
Hawai'i 14, UC San Diego 12Â (Semifinal)
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UC San Diego 12, UC Davis 11 OTÂ (Quarterfinal)
2021 (La Jolla, Calif.)
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UC Irvine 12, UC San Diego 11Â (Quarterfinal)
TRITON GOAL SCORERS AT THE BIG WEST CHAMPIONSHIP
Courtney Okumura 14
Kendall Thomas 11
Caroline Christl 10
Annika Arroyo 9
Lucia Doak 6
Ciara Franke 5
Taylor Onstott 5
Tera Richardson 3
Abigail Schechter 3
Sofia Munatones 2
Cascade Stensland 2
Lauren Bellavia 1
Sydney Boland 1
Karis Couch 1
Maja Layden 1
Holly Maine 1
Grayson Mix 1
Abby Moll 1
Sydney Munatones 1
THOMAS IS THE BIG WEST PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Triton co-captain
Kendall Thomas was named the Big West Player of the Week Wednesday. A senior center, Thomas was instrumental in two UC San Diego victories this last week. Saturday, she helped lead the Tritons to their ninth consecutive Harper Cup victory against San Diego State. She scored four goals on six shots and added two drawn exclusions and a steal in the 18-16 win. For the third straight season, Thomas was honored as the Carin Crawford Most Valuable Player of the game. The day prior, Thomas totaled four points on three goals and an assist as UC San Diego downed Big West rival UC Santa Barbara, 13-11, in the Tritons' final regular season conference game. In that win, she also contributed three drawn exclusions and a steal.
KREUTZKAMPÂ HITS MILESTONE
In his 16th season leading the Tritons,
Brad Kreutzkamp, the program's winningest coach, hit a major career milestone on Jan. 31. A 16-15 sudden victory overtime triumph against Arizona State in La Jolla was his 300th career win at UC San Diego. He came into the 2025 season with 296 wins.
Kreutzkamp Moments
Win #1: 2/6/10, 8-4 vs. Marist
Win #50: 3/31/12, 13-4 vs. Azusa Pacific
Win #100: 3/16/14, 11-8 vs. Wagner
Win #200: 4/29/18, 12-2 vs. Cal State East Bay
Win #300: 1/31/25, 16-15 (SV) vs. Arizona State
SARAH LIZOTTEÂ TRAVELS TO AFRICA
Assistant coach and Triton All-American Sarah Lizotte recently took a trip to Zimbabwe to help revitalize youth water polo in the country. Check out the feature story "
From California to Zimbabwe: Global Coaching, Local Impact with Sarah Lizotte", written by Alexandra Tuff.Â
MAKANAÂ FAKE GOES 3-0 IN FIRST CAREER GAMES
Freshman goalie
Makana Fake has been called upon to start in net for the Tritons three times this season and she has made the best of it, recording three complete games and winning all of them. Her victories came against Michigan, UC Santa Barbara, and, most recently, San Diego State in the annual Harper Cup. Overall, Fake has made 22 saves, half of those coming against the Gauchos. She also has four steals to her name.
SENIORS HONORED
Eight Triton seniors were celebrated prior to last week's game against San Diego State in La Jolla -
Caroline Christl,
Lucia Doak,
Sila Fedler,
Kenzie Larson,
Abby Moll,
Courtney Okumura,
Lexi Stahl, and
Kendall Thomas.
BIG WEST STANDINGS
(through 4/24)
| Team |
Big West |
Overall |
| Hawai'i |
7-0 |
18-4 |
| Long Beach State |
6-1 |
15-10 |
| UC Irvine |
5-2 |
14-12 |
| UC San Diego |
4-3 |
16-13 |
| UC Davis |
3-4 |
13-13 |
| UC Santa Barbara |
2-5 |
16-12 |
| CSUN |
1-6 |
16-11 |
| Cal State Fullerton |
0-7 |
11-20 |
TRITON RECORDS
(through 4/24)
| Overall |
16-13 |
| Big West |
4-3 |
| Non-conference |
12-10 |
| At home |
5-6 |
| On the road |
3-3 |
| At at neutral site |
8-4 |
| In overtime |
2-0 |
| Scoring 0-6Â goals |
0-2 |
| Scoring 7-9 goals |
0-6 |
| Scoring 10-12 goals |
2-5 |
| Scoring 13-15 goals |
9-0 |
| Scoring 16-18 goals |
3-0 |
| Scoring 19-20 goals |
2-0 |
| Scoring 21-plus goals |
0-0 |
| On Thursdays |
0-1 |
| On Fridays |
5-0 |
| On Saturdays |
9-8 |
| On Sundays |
2-4 |
| vs. Ranked Teams |
13-13 |
| vs. Unranked Teams |
3-0 |
MULTIPLE GOAL GAMES
(through 4/24)
GAME-WINNING GOALS
(through 4/24)
CURRENT TRITON SCORING STREAKS
(through 4/24)
•
Caroline Christl 23
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Sydney Munatones 2
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Courtney Okumura 2
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Kendall Thomas 2
GAME-BY-GAME GOAL LEADERS
(through 4/24)
2025Â AWARDS
• Caroline Christl: Two-time Big West Player of the Week (3/5, 2/12), Two-time UCSDTritons.com Athlete of the Week (2/24, 2/3)
• Kendall Thomas: Big West Player of the Week (4/23/25), Carin Crawford Harper Cup MVP, Big West Preseason Coaches' Team, UCSDTritons.com Athlete of the Week (4/7)
2024 AWARDS
• Caroline Christl: ACWPC All-America Honorable Mention,
 All-Big West Second Team, UCU Athlete of the Week (4/1)
•
Lexi Stahl:Â All-Big West Second Team, Two-time Big West Player of the Week (4/10, 3/13)
• Kendall Thomas: ACWPC All-America Third Team, All-Big West First Team ... All-Big West Preseason Coaches' Team, Two-time UCU Athlete of the Week (4/22, 1/29)
AYE AYE CAPTAIN
The 2025 Triton captains are
Lexi Stahl and
Kendall Thomas.
| ACWPCÂ NATIONAL POLL (4/23) |
CWPA NATIONAL POLL (4/23) |
BIG WEST PRESEASON POLL |
| 1. UCLA |
1. Stanford |
1. UC Irvine |
| tie-2. Stanford |
2 UCLA |
2. Hawai'i |
| tie-2. USC |
3. USC |
3. Long Beach State |
| tie-4. California |
4. Hawai'i |
4. UC San Diego |
| t-4. Hawai'i |
5. California |
5.UC Davis |
| 6. Long Beach State |
6. Long Beach State |
6. CSUN |
| 7. UC Irvine |
7. UC Irvine |
7. UC Santa Barbara |
| 8. Fresno State |
8. Fresno State |
8. Cal State Fullerton |
| 9. Loyola Marymount |
9. UC San Diego |
|
| tie-10. Arizona State |
10. Arizona State |
|
| tie-10. Princeton |
11. Harvard |
|
| tie-12. Indiana |
12. Loyola Marymount |
|
| tie-12. UC San Diego |
13. Princeton |
|
| 14. San Jose State |
14. Indiana |
|
| 15. Harvard |
15. Michigan |
|
| 16. Michigan |
16. San Jose State |
|
| 17. UC Davis |
17. UC Davis |
|
| tie-18. UC Santa Barbara |
18. UC Santa Barbara |
|
| tie-18. Wagner |
19. Pacific |
|
| 20. Brown |
20. Wagner |
|
| 21. Pacific |
21. Brown |
|
| 22. San Diego State |
22. San Diego State |
|
| 23. Marist |
23. Marist |
|
| tie-24. CSUN |
24. Long Island University |
|
| tie-24. Pomona-Pitzer |
tie-25. CSUN |
|
|
tie-25. Pomona-Pitzer |
|
| UCSD: 15, 15, 11, 13, 11, 8, 7, 9, 10, 10, 9, 9, 9, 12 |
UCSD: 12, 14, 14, 13, 11, 10, 8, 9, 11, 11, 12, 11, 13, 9 |
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HEAD COACH BRAD KREUTZKAMP
Brad Kreutzkamp is currently in his 16th season as head coach of the UC San Diego women's water polo program in 2025. Kreutzkamp has led UC San Diego to eight Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) championships and eight appearances at the NCAA Championship. Kreutzkamp has been named the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC)Â and WWPA Coach of the Year five times during his career. On Jan. 31, 2025, he hit a major milestone by earning his 300th career win - a 16-15 sudden victory overtime win against Arizona State in La Jolla.Â
Full Bio
WELCOME BACK SARAH
Four-time ACWPC All-America First Team honoree and two-time NCAA Division II Player of the Year Sarah Lizotte rejoined the team this season as an assistant coach. As a player for
Brad Kreutzkamp between 2011 and 2014, Lizotte is UC San Diego's all-time leader in goals (321), assists (176), and shots (758).
Player Bio |
Coaching Bio
ON THE MOVE
After 20 seasons playing as an NCAA Division II team, the entire athletics program has completed a four-year transition to NCAA Division I, culminating in full DI status as a member of theÂ
Big West Conference for the 2024-25 academic year. All UC San Diego sports are now eligible for conference and NCAA postseason play.
FOR THE YOUNGER CROWD
Got some young Triton fans in your family? If they are eighth grade or under, check out theÂ
Junior Triton Club. Membership includes a free t-shirt, admission to over 100 UC San Diego home athletic events, and much more!
GEAR HERE
For the latest Triton apparel and accessories, visit the official team store of the TritonsÂ
here.
WHY THE TRITONS?
The Triton is described as the offspring of Poseidon and Amphitrite, a demigod of the sea with a lower part of the body like that of a fish. It is known as a mighty and fierce sea warrior. Given UC San Diego's close proximity to the Pacific Ocean and its connections with the world-famous Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the Triton became our mascot in 1964.
About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program began a new era in 2020 as a member of The Big West in NCAA Division I. The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 84 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 38 have earned prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 91 percent, one of the highest rates among institutions at all divisions.
