Lacrosse Drops Close Contest with USC

TEMPE, Ariz. – Sun Devil Lacrosse couldn't complete a comeback against USC, falling 16-14, in another nail-biter on Friday afternoon.
 
Arizona State (8-5, 5-4) will have to settle for a split of the season series with the Trojans, previously defeating them 20-9 in Los Angeles earlier this season. The Sun Devils finished the game on an 8-2 run, putting USC on their heels for the final 10 minutes of the game. However, the comeback effort would run out of time, as the Trojans handed ASU only their second home defeat of the season.
 
On an afternoon where the senior class was honored following the game, it was no surprise that those seniors stepped up. The group was led by Kerri Clayton, who turned in a vintage performance. She finished with five goals and three assists, causing the opponent fits all afternoon. In net, senior Berkeley Bonneau made three saves and was a strong presence before leaving with an injury.
 
Despite winning the draw control battle thanks in large part to senior Maura Cissel, Arizona State committed 26 turnovers and fell behind early. The Sun Devils outscored the visitors 10-7 in the second half, finding their rhythm as the game went on. Two shorthanded goals late in the game were part of a valiant comeback effort, but the Trojans prevailed 16-14.
 
TURNING POINT
Arizona State got off to a great start, scoring the first two goals of the game. The turning point would come early in this one, as USC went on a run to establish a lead they would never relinquish. Over the next six minutes, the Trojans went on a 6-0 run to jump out to a 6-2 lead. A Kerri Clayton goal would break up the run, but USC answered with three straight goals to claim a 9-3 lead. They entered halftime with a 9-4 lead, one they would build up to as many as eight in the second half.
 
The Sun Devils came storming back late in the contest, accounting for eight of the final 10 goals. A late yellow card issued to ASU would put them a man-down with 54 seconds left, but that did not stop them from cutting into the lead. Carley Adams and Kerri Clayton capped the game with goals only 32 seconds apart, as Arizona State competed until the final whistle.
 
NOTABLES

• Kerri Clayton was brilliant all afternoon, finishing with five goals and three assists.
  • She scored at least five goals and seven points for the 11th time in her career and second time in the past three games.
  • She reached 30 goals for the third season and has a career-best 22 assists.
• Maddy Hunter had an offensive outburst, scoring four goals for the third time in her career.
  • Hunter now has six career hat tricks, three of which have come this season.
  • She has a career-best 18 goals and nine assists in 12 games.
• With two goals this afternoon, Carley Adams set the new program record for goals in a single season.
  
  • She now has 46 goals in 2021, the most in the Pac-12.
  • After scoring 13 goals in her first 33 games as a Sun Devil, Adams has accounted for 64 goals in her last 21 games.
• Katie Brodsky's breakout 2021 campaign continues, as she finished with a goal and three assists.
  
  • She now has seven career performances with four or more points, six coming this season.
  • After compiling 16 points in 11 games during her first two seasons, Brodsky has now scored 23 goals and dished out 17 assists in 13 games this year.
• Emily Glagolev notched her 29th career multi-assist effort.
• When Berkeley Bonneau went down with an injury late in the first half, sophomore Lindsey Spies stepped up. Playing in only her sixth career game, Spies showed flashes of brilliance despite being called into unexpected duty.
  
  • She finished with six saves and played the final 30:28 of the game, proving to be a steadying force to spark a Sun Devil comeback attempt.

UP NEXT 
ASU has a quick turnaround as they will immediately head to Southern California for a rematch with San Diego State. The 1 PM MT contest is scheduled for Sunday, April 25 with a live stream available here and live stats at the following link. The Sun Devils opened the season with a 23-10 win over San Diego State at home, and will now return the trip to San Diego where they lost a thrilling 19-18 game in 2020.

HOW TO FOLLOW
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