A Competitive Send‑Off
The UC San Diego Tritons played their final preseason exhibition at the Triton Soccer Stadium in La Jolla, California, facing Grand Canyon University in a tightly contested match that ended in a 1‑1 draw.
Grand Canyon drew first blood in the 12th minute, converting a penalty kick to take a 1‑0 lead, but the Tritons rallied with a series of attacks that kept the opposition under pressure.
UC San Diego outshot the visitors 17‑13 and held a slight edge in shots on target, 8‑7, while goalkeeper Nic Thiele made six saves, highlighted by a crucial stop on Ife Nkabu’s header in the 56th minute.
The equalizer came in the 87th minute when Ryan Namdar tapped in a pass from Lalo Barbieri, sparking a late surge that forced the game into a stalemate.
The result marks the end of the Tritons’ preseason schedule and sets the stage for their first home test of the regular season against Navy on August 20 at 7 p.m., also at Triton Soccer Stadium.
Beyond the match, the program reflects a broader transition: after two decades in Division II, UC San Diego Athletics has moved into Division I within The Big West, a shift that underscores the university’s growing athletic profile while maintaining a 90 percent graduation rate among scholar‑athletes and a legacy of 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships.