A crisp evening in San Diego turned into a showcase of offensive firepower for the UC San Diego women's soccer program, as the Tritons posted a 4-2 victory over Utah Tech that will be remembered for years to come.
From the opening whistle, the home side pressed forward, and freshman forward Olivia Shih broke the deadlock in the 18th minute with her first collegiate goal, sending the crowd into a roar.
Senior midfielder Lana Gilligan doubled the lead just before halftime, converting a penalty kick in the 41st minute to put the Tritons up 2-0 and cementing her place among the program's early leaders.
A Surge of Fresh Talent
The second half saw a wave of breakthroughs from newcomers. Ava Tibor, in her seventh career appearance, struck in the 61st minute to make it 3-0, a goal that proved to be the game-winner.
Just minutes later, another freshman, Regan Ramirez, found the net in the 72nd minute, capping a personal debut with a strike that stretched the lead to 4-0.
Utah Tech refused to go quietly, answering with two goals that narrowed the gap to 4-2, but the Tritons' defense held firm, preserving the win and the record books.
Statistically, UC San Diego outshot the visitors 17-11, with seven of those attempts landing on target, underscoring a dominant yet efficient performance.
The victory improves the Tritons to 1-1-0 on the season, while Utah Tech falls to 0-1-1. The team now turns its attention to a highly anticipated matchup against UNLV in Las Vegas, where the next chapter of their campaign will unfold.