LA JOLLA, Calif. – Zlatan Nikocevic netted the game-winner with 1:36 left to play as 13^th ranked UC Irvine upset ninth-ranked UC San Diego on the first day of the Triton Invitational.
 
UCI improves to 1-0 overall, while UCSD falls to 1-1 on the season.
 
HEAD COACH MARC HUNT ON TODAY'S WIN
> "San Diego is a tough team with a very strong goalie. We knew we had to match intensity on our defensive end. Our team made a great effort and Harrison anchored throughout and finished with an amazing penalty save at the end."

> "Niko hit big shots. The eventual game was a nine-meter bomb. Very proud of him, he's been working hard."

> "We have a long way to go, it's rewarding to start the season with a strong team win."
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
> Nikocevic notched a hat trick, tallying three goals including the game-winner
> Daniel Norman and Jason Evezard each finished with a goal
> In his collegiate debut, freshman Harrison Land notched 15 saves for a .789 save percentage only allowing four goals in 32 minutes of action
> Jon Polos dished out two assists while Chad Gornay and Ian Fleenor had one apiece
> UCI went 1-6 in powerplays while UCSD finished 2-6 and 0-1 in five-meter penalties
> The 'Eaters won all four sprints
> Connor Turnbow-Lindenstadt led the Tritons with two goals
 
TURNING POINTS
Quarter One
> Fleenor found Evezard for a goal at 6:06
> The 'Eaters held the Tritons scoreless in the first eight minutes
 
Quarter Two
> Both teams locked down on defense as a goal was not allowed on either side for over six minutes
> UCI broke the scoring drought when Polos dished a pass to Nikocevic who fired in a goal past UCSD's goalkeeper Jack Turner
> The 'Eaters took a 2-0 lead into halftime
 
Quarter Three
> UCI made it 3-0 with a goal from Norman at 6:45
> The Tritons closed the gap, 3-2, after scoring back-to-back goals
> Nikocevic tallied his third goal on a 6-on-5 with 3:18 remaining in the frame to make it 4-2
 
Quarter Four
> UCSD added two quick goals to open-up the final frame knotting the game, 4-4, with 3:44 to play
> Nikocevic's eventual game-winner came at 1:36 giving UCI the 5-4 edge
> The Tritons had an opportunity to tie things up with a five-meter penalty shot at 18 seconds but Land denied it, securing the 5-4 victory for the 'Eaters
 
NOTES
> This is the second-straight year UCI has beaten UCSD by one goal in its season opener

UP NEXT
> UCI plays Claremont-Mudd-Scripps today at 4:20 p.m.