Score: No. 3 seed UC Davis 8, No. 2 seed UCSD 13
Location: DAVIS, Calif. (Schaal Aquatics Center)
Records: UC Davis 10-13, UCSD 16-11
 
The Short Story: After a final heartbreaker versus No. 2 seed UC San Diego Tritons, the Ags conclude the season in their home pool during the Big West Conference Championships.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The faceoff versus the Tritons was bloody and brutal, with multiple misconducts and exclusions on both ends of the pool.
 
San Diego was just the better team today; we gave our best but it just wasn't enough" states head coach Dan Leyson. 

The Aggies began the game up and rushing, Aleix Aznar Beltran notching the first goal in the first minute and a half of the game.
 
The left-handed redshirt senior Tyler Mrkaich had a three-goal run in the first half, posting the highest goal count for the Aggies.
 
Redshirt freshman Thomas Kiesling also had a first-quarter slammer, then later drew and converted a crucial five-meter play. Will Nomura muscled in a goal from the center position, and freshman Oleg Shatskikh converted a powerplay opportunity in the fourth quarter.
 
In the final minutes of the game, the Tritons went on a frenzy and outscored the Ags, finishing the game with an 8-13 score.
 
The Ags had an impressive showing on the defensive end, grabbing pieces of the Tritons' shot opportunities with seven field blocks, Beltran corraling three of those.
 
The Ags finished the 2024 season with ten regular season wins under their belt, and impressive showings versus the top teams in the nation.
 
"It's been a difficult season, not just from our schedule alone where we played so many top teams so many times," says Leyson. "We also were working with a younger group still finding their way all throughout the season.
 
"Our team gained so much valuable experience that will benefit the returners, and it was tough all the way through."
 
Beltran topped the Aggie charts with 69 points on the season, with 39 goals and 30 assists. Kiesling posted a season-high 51 goals, Nomura drew 38 exclusions, and Neach recorded 20 steals.
 
Frank Laptin recorded 121 saves on the season in his debut year headlining the goalkeepers.
 
The Ags look to regroup in preparation for next season, ready to dive headfirst into 2025 play.
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