SEATTLE - Something had to give at Seattle Pacific University’s Interbay Stadium on Thursday night.

The 25th-ranked SPU women’s soccer team hadn’t lost in 13 home openers all-time, going 12-0-1, while UC San Diego brought in an undefeated 13-0-1 mark in lid-lifters at the NCAA Division II level, including a 2-1 defeat of SPU in La Jolla a year ago.

The host Falcons came out and scored twice within the first 22 minutes, however, and hung on for a 2-1 victory of its own. The result snapped a streak of four straight wins for UCSD over SPU. The Tritons still lead the all-time series, 5-3.

Isabel Farrell put the home side on the board just 118 seconds into the match with a shot from 10 yards which took a deflection on its way into the lower left corner.

“I emphasized with our team before the game that the first 15 minutes were key and we needed to go after them,” remarked longtime UCSD head coach Brian McManus. “Then they scored in the first two minutes. It seems that didn’t work out so well.”

Hannah Huesers doubled the advantage at 21:06, firing in the rebound from close range after Laura Moore’s initial effort had been saved by Triton goalkeeper Kelcie Brodsky. Moore was credited with the assist.

UCSD finally pulled one back in the 82nd minute, courtesy of true freshman Jordyn McNutt’s (San Diego/University City HS) first career goal, unassisted off a flick from about seven yards out.

“We seemed to settle down after halftime,” added McManus. “The first 10-15 minutes of the second half were even, but in the last 25 minutes or so we took it to them and finally got one into the goal. We had a couple of good crosses late and Aimee Ellis had a big chance to tie it but put it over the crossbar.

“We missed a lot of opportunities, but Seattle Pacific was the better side tonight. They returned nine starters and are much better than they were when we saw them last year.”

Brodsky, now in her third season as the starting UCSD goalkeeper, finished with seven saves. Her counterpart, Alexa Hughes, stopped four shots for the Falcons.

The Tritons managed a 14-13 edge in shots taken. Senior Kylie Hill had three.

McNutt and Ellis drew starting assignments in their Triton debuts, while Makenzie Brito, Katie O’Laughlin (Carlsbad/Pacific Ridge School), Sophia Hyver and Taylor Ramos (San Diego/Coronado HS) also appeared for the first time for UCSD.

“I was really pleased with the freshmen, every one of them, and overall, I liked our attitudes, especially in the second half,” concluded McManus. “We got things wide, made some good crosses, and got the ball in behind them in the box. In the first half, we were too direct and things got clogged up in the middle.”

UCSD remains in the Pacific Northwest and takes on Saint Martin’s in another non-conference tilt in Lacey, Wash., this Saturday, Sept. 6, beginning at 4 p.m.

#TritonsRising

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