SAN DIEGO – Extra time seems to be rule when these teams play.

For the third straight season Azusa Pacific and UC San Diego battled into overtime and for the first time, the Tritons came out with the win. The Tritons scored the final two goals of the game to post a 2-1 victory.

Previously, the Cougars won on a golden goal in 2014 then the squads tied last season.

After the first 45 minutes the game look destined for a scoreless draw as there was just two shots on goal between the teams. But after each team got into the flow of their season opener, the second half saw play open up and goals getting scored.

"Both teams had a tough time find their rhythm during most of the first half," Azusa Pacific head coach Dave Blomquist said. "I got the sense in the early going that both sides had a tough time finding their style of play."

The Cougars found a style to their liking early in the second frame. Caleb Candelaria opened the scoring in the 48th minute with a free kick. The senior scored his second career goal with a boot that found the bottom right corner of the net.

The home team responded in the 68th minute as a Sam Palano strike beat Tyler Jaramillo's save attempt into the left corner of the cage. Each team had opportunities during the remainder of regulation but couldn't capitalize.

Nick Palano provided the game winning goal with just over 90 seconds left in the contest when he took a feed from his brother, Sam, from the left side for the golden goal.

"It was a little bit of tired legs on the play," Blomquist said. "We had an opportunity to control the ball but we were just a step slower and they took advantage of it."

Azusa Pacific will regroup on Saturday evening when they travel to NCAA Championships participant Cal State Dominguez Hills.  

"Overall I saw some good things this evening. We certainly still have a long way to go but I really like how these team has responded to adversity since the start of camp so we will come out on Saturday and be better than today."