TEMPE, Ariz. — Despite the second-half push for a comeback, Arizona State (2-3) ultimately fell 16-14 to the USC Trojans (4-2) on Saturday, Feb. 28.

The Sun Devils went into the locker room at halftime down 11-4.

“We weren't playing Sun Devil lacrosse,” head coach Taryn VanThof Puls said. “We weren't out there giving it from an effort standpoint. ”

ASU struggled at defending the goal, with freshman goalkeeper Gabriella Henry making her second career start against the Trojans. Henry left the game four minutes into the second quarter after allowing seven goals on seven shots and was replaced by sophomore Regan Spichiger.

Spichiger finished the game allowing nine goals, a save percentage of .308 and four shots stopped, recording the only saves from the Sun Devils all game.

While the scoreboard told a different story, the ASU defense stepped up in the first half, causing two shot-clock violations even while down by a goal.

Although the Sun Devils struggled to create chances offensively in the first half, junior midfielder Anna Viglione dominated in draw controls, winning 8 of 17 in the first two quarters alone.

“She (Viglione) gives us an opportunity before the ball even has to go to the defensive end for a stop,” VanThof Puls said. “I think she's phenomenal at her craft and continues to work really hard at her skill daily. She's a spark for us, and if she continues to do her job, the team is going to help support her.”

Yet, coming back out for the last 30 minutes of regulation, the Sun Devils looked like a different team, flipping the narrative and beginning a comeback.

“I had complete trust in our team and in our unit,” VanThof Puls said. “I said that in the locker room, I go, ‘I believe in you guys more than anybody else in the world. And you know, we've got the skill, we've got the talent, and we just needed to add the heart and hustle to it.’”

ASU held the Trojans to two goals in the third quarter after scoring four goals and seven goals in the first and second quarters, respectively.

Fresh faces contributed to the action, as freshman midfielder Addy Westerberg scored her fourth and fifth goals of the season on back-to-back shots with assists from senior attacker Jordyn Behar and sophomore attacker Addie Shevitz.

“We had two freshmen jump in and give us huge sparks, and Addy Westerberg. So I'm proud of the unit,” VanThof Puls said. “ It's not just can they get it done, but they do get it done, and they're leading our momentum and capitalizing on momentum. So I was really proud of that group that jumped in.”

By the end of the third quarter, the Sun Devils closed the gap, 13-9, heading into the final frame, with senior attackers Tegan Ng and Lydia Oldknow also finding the back of the net, with Shevitz and Behar on the assists once again.

ASU scored another five goals in the fourth quarter, outshooting the Trojans 34-32 by the end of the matchup, but the effort proved not enough to surge past a hot USC offense.

Behar and Oldknow were second-half heroes for ASU, combining for 14 points.

Oldknow, with five goals and one assist, four of her goals taking place in the fourth quarter, and Behar with eight points on two goals and six assists.

“That’s what’s expected (of them),” VanThof Puls said. “I think they were putting the ball away when they needed to, but early on, we got to capitalize sooner.”

Although the Behar-Oldknow attacking duo stole the show offensively, USC sophomore goalkeeper stood out for the Trojans’ defense, making 13 saves with a .481 save percentage.

“She did make some great saves, but we made her look really good,” VanThof Puls said. “It's twofold, goalies are gonna make saves, but we also got to make a goal and put it around her, not at her.”

Playing the full 60 minutes and capitalizing early on continues to be the Achilles’ heel of the season so far. 

“We pushed pace when we needed to,” VanThof Puls said. “We needed to look up the field and capitalize, but I give my kids credit for fighting till the end. They did not give up in that game, and that is huge.”