BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Sixth-ranked University of California San Diego was unable to come back from a two-goal deficit in succumbing to No. 17 Western Washington University, 3-2, Wednesday night at Harrington Field.

A second successive loss to a top-17-ranked foe dropped UC San Diego to 3-2. Western Washington remained unbeaten at 4-0-1. Despite a second straight defeat to the Vikings, UCSD still leads the all-time series, 5-2-1. Harrington Field was the venue in which the Tritons saw their 2015 season ended, by Seattle Pacific, in the first round of the NCAA Division II Championship.

Gabriela Pelogi and Erin Russell trotted the host Vikings out to a 2-0 bulge in the 23rd and 30th minutes, respectively, both via shots from distance.

Within 78 seconds of the second strike, the Tritons were able to pull one back thanks to a fantastically-weighted through ball over the top by sophomore forward Mary Reilly (Chula Vista/Hilltop HS), with junior winger Jordyn McNutt (San Diego/University City HS) running onto it and finishing from the right side into the bottom left corner. It was McNutt's first of 2016, and Reilly's third assist.

It was in fact the first goal that WWU had surrendered all season, snapping a shutout streak of 413:54 for goalkeeper Ashley Homer.

Western extended back out to a two-goal advantage just before the halftime whistle, as Jordyn Bartelson notched her first of the season at 42:41.

Reilly grabbed her third of 2016 in the 58th, given as unassisted following a failed clearance and finish over Homer, but UCSD could not find the equalizer from there.

Itzel Gonzalez had three saves for the Tritons, while Homer finished with a pair.

UCSD had not given up three goals in a game since back-to-back 3-2 home defeats last Sept. 18 and 20, both in overtime. The Tritons have now allowed four goals in two games on the heels of three consecutive clean sheets to begin the campaign.

Redshirt freshman Natalie Saddic, a first-year transfer from UC Davis, made her college debut after missing the first four matches through injury. She came on in the 33rd minute and played the final 58 minutes, helping to hold WWU scoreless after the break.

UC San Diego remains in the Seattle area and heads over to Ellensburg for a matinee date on Friday, Sept. 16, with undefeated Central Washington (5-0). Kickoff is set for 12 p.m., with the Tritons flying home that night.

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