SAN DIEGO – The season started and, ultimately, ended on the same field.

In their NCAA tournament second-round contest, Azusa Pacific's season came to a close with a 4-2 setback to No. 9 UC San Diego.

It is the second time this year the Tritons knocked off Azusa Pacific. The loss also ended an unbeaten run of 12 games; it is the first defeat for the Cougars since Sept. 24. The squad closes the season with a 12-4-4 mark. UC San Diego ups their record to 19-2 and moves on to play Western Washington for the NCAA West Region title next week.

For Azusa Pacific it is the second consecutive season they posted a 1-1 record during the NCAA tournament.

Post Game Comments from head coach Jason Surrell

During a 15-minute stretch early in the contest, the Tritons grabbed game's the momentum. In the 10th minute Mary Reilly hit a tough angled shot from the right side that went over top of the reaching arm of Cougar goal keeper Sarah Klinkenberg for their first goal. At exactly the 17-minute mark UC San Diego doubled their lead when Katie O'Laughlin received a pass on the right and found the back of the net from 15 yards. Jordyn McNutt finished the three-goal outburst with a penalty kick in the 25th minute.

Azusa Pacific got on the scoreboard when Emile Allum scored her fifth goal of the season. The freshman's goal in the 36th minute came when she headed a Lindsey Ryals pass from the left side into the back of the cage.

The first three minutes of the second half had a critical swing. Azusa Pacific nearly had their second goal but Kennedy Christie's shot slid just wide of the goal post. Less than a minute later, Reilly scored her second goal of the game when she received a through ball from O'Laughlin and beat Klinkenberg on a one-on-one opportunity.

With just under 27 minutes remaining Victoria Kovatch scored the Cougars second goal when she headed home a corner kicked cross from Haley Arft. The Tritons looked to add to their tally in the 72nd minute but Taylor Ramos' shot from distance clipped off the crossbar. As the final minutes ticked away Azusa Pacific was able to play a handful balls into the box but couldn't find an opportunity to pull within a single goal.

Azusa Pacific graduates nine players who tallied a winning percentage of .692 (54-17-6) during their four-year tenure with the program.