LA JOLLA, Calif. -- For over an hour Saturday night, Azusa Pacific got exactly the type of game it wanted in its road opener at UC San Diego, but the final 30 minutes produced the Tritons' game-winner and a late insurance goal in a 3-1 defeat.

The Cougars generated plentiful high-quality scoring chances, finishing with a 15-3 advantage in total shots and an 8-1 edge in corner kicks. Gregoire Diep led the way with five shots, putting four on goal, but UC San Diego goalkeeper Pedro Enciso made five saves in the game. The only shot he was not able to stop was Arturo Astorga's 47th-minute goal, which tied the game at 1-1.

With just over two minutes remaining in the first half, Azusa Pacific had taken six shots and three corner kicks without allowing a single shot from UC San Diego. That changed when Nathaniel Bloom played a long ball over the top for Nick Cirrito, who ran onto it and shot low into the net to give the Tritons a 1-0 lead.

Astorga headed in the equalizer less than two minutes into the second half, redirecting a cross from the right side into the net inside the far post. Aleksandar Pumpalovic and Kyle Diaz registered assists on the play, and the game remained tied for the next 20 minutes before a UC San Diego free kick led to the Tritons' second goal. After the free kick was headed down to the center of the box, Jonathan Stoop finished with a low shot from the center of the box to give UCSD a 2-1 edge in the 67th minute.

Jonathan Sabouri provided an insurance goal in the 86th minute for the final 3-1 margin.

The victory drops Azusa Pacific to 1-1 on the season, splitting its non-conference games against opponents from the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) after the Cougars won Thursday's season opener over Cal State Dominguez Hills by a 4-2 margin.

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