The ASU women's rugby club was held scoreless in its Saturday match with undefeated UC-San Diego.
The Sun Devils, however, still have reason to celebrate.
ASU (3-3) held UCSD to three points in the first half, keeping the match close at halftime. UCSD pulled away in the second half, scoring three tries to end the game with 18 points.
"We really put up a good fight against a great team," club president Chelsea Lohman said. "We played our hearts out. There is nothing about this game that I'm disappointed with."
UCSD (5-0) has not lost in Southern California Rugby Union league play since 2002 and has represented the league in the national tournament for the past two seasons.
"We worked the hardest that we have all season this week," Lohman said. "Even though we lost, I think it was a great way to end the season series with UCSD and get ready for Fiji."
ASU came away with a 10-5 victory in the B-side match against UCSD; and Lohman and sophomore forward Brie Jorde added all of ASU's points on two tries.
"We played really hard," Jorde said. "The rookies did great, they played hard and they're learning."
The loss to the Tritons has all but shut the door on the Sun Devils' post-season hopes.
That news would be harder to stomach if ASU wasn't leaving for Fiji on Saturday.
The long-awaited, seven-day rugby tour of Fiji was originally scheduled for August 2004 but postponed due to funding issues.
ASU is scheduled to play two matches against the University of South Pacific and the under-21 Fiji national women's team. The Sun Devils will be playing teams that have grown up in a country where rugby is a national pastime.
"We're nothing but excited," Lohman said. "It's nerve-racking knowing that we're going up against teams that have lived and breathed rugby since the time that they're born, but I feel like we have a great team put together and a lot of heart. If we play the way we know how, we'll hold our own and do all right."
ASU's game against the Fiji national team will be played as an entrance game prior to a match between two top Fiji league teams in a large stadium.
Jorde said despite the clear disparity in experience, she is confident in ASU's chances on the island.
"Our team has been playing together for a while now, and the U21 team is just now getting put together for their season," Jorde said. "We've been playing together, working together and have got a season behind us. We're ready.
"It's a little unreal that we're actually going. I still can't believe it."
Men's lacrosse
The ASU men's lacrosse club snapped a four-game losing streak over the weekend by picking up a pair of wins over UCLA and Fort Lewis College.
The Sun Devils were looking for redemption after dropping their last three matches, all against top-five teams.
"The guys were chomping at the bit to get out there and pounce on somebody," coach Jon Minder said. "It just happened to be UCLA."
ASU (3-4) jumped out in front of UCLA, scoring six unanswered points in the first quarter of the 8-6 victory.
Sophomore midfielder Jason Bellar paced the Sun Devils with six goals and an assist in Sunday's 18-5 route of Fort Lewis.
Western Collegiate Lacrosse League conference play begins Saturday as the Sun Devils travel to southern California to face UC-San Diego and San Diego State.
Wins over both division rivals would greatly increase the Sun Devils' post-season chances.
"The whole season's on the line this weekend," Minder said. "It's pretty cut and dry. These might as well be two playoff games."
Hockey
The ASU hockey club made its fourth appearance at the American Collegiate Hockey Association national tournament last week and finished in familiar fashion.
For the second straight year, the Sun Devils failed to bypass the first round.
ASU (18-8-0) lost 3-2 in overtime to No. 7 Robert Morris on Thursday, eliminating the Sun Devils from national title contention.
The Sun Devils were outshot 46-31 in their first overtime loss of the season. ASU had won all three of its previous overtime contest.
Both ASU goals came in the second period from sophomore forward Justin Hart and junior Weston Pongracz.
ASU lost 7-4 to No. 8 Duquesne on Friday in a consolation game with post-tournament rankings on the line.
Illinois defeated Penn State to take its first ACHA national title.
Reach the reporter at michael.fowler@asu.edu.
