Box Score (PDF)

THE RUNDOWN
LA JOLLA, Calif. – No. 10 UC San Diego relied on a pair of Kuba Waligorski goals in the second half to erase a 1-0 deficit and advance to the NCAA Division II semifinals for the first time in school history as the Tritons denied No. 11 Midwestern State its third trip to the Final Four with a 2-1 win Sunday afternoon at Triton Soccer Stadium.

Midwestern State (18-4-1) claimed a 1-0 lead in the 31st minute after a Waligorski foul in the box set up sophomore defender Patrick Fitzgerald for a penalty kick. Fitzgerald drilled his third penalty kick attempt of the season past keeper Cameron McElfresh into the bottom left corner of the box to help the Mustangs take a 1-0 lead at halftime.

Waligorski's second half strikes were the only shots on goal for UC San Diego (19-2-2) the entire match, recording the equalizer in the 58th minute with a header goal off a corner kick from Justice Duerksen.

With less than 15 minutes to play in the contest, a free kick for Waligorski from 30 yards out on the left side of the pitch found right corner of the net to propel the Tritons into the lead with 13:25 remaining in regulation.

The Mustangs came close to netting the equalizer on a number of tries in the final stretch with an attempt from senior midfielder Flavio Guzman hitting the crossbar and a shot by senior midfielder Leon Taylor finding the hands of McElfresh with less than two minutes to play.

NOTES
- Midwestern State made its sixth NCAA II quarterfinal appearance in program history Sunday, also advancing to the Elite Eight in 2002, 2003, 2007, 2008 and 2010
- MSU's 18 wins this season tied for the sixth most in school history
- Midwestern State claimed the Heartland Conference regular season title in its inaugural season in the league while finishing runners-up in the conference tournament
- MSU recorded its 19th-straight winning season, the longest active streak in NCAA Division II and tied for the eighth longest in the history of Division II men's soccer
 
STAT OF THE GAME
2 – UC San Diego scored on both shots on goal, the third time a Midwestern State opponent has defeated the Mustangs this season by scoring on all of their shots on goal -- Northeastern State (1 SOG) and Newman (1 SOG)