After two consecutive wins last week, No. 1-seeded USC advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament to face No. 2 Wake Forest at Dignity Health Sports Park on Saturday. However, the Trojans’ journey ended sooner than expected after they fell 4-3 on penalty kicks to the Demon Deacons.

Despite dominating most of the game, out-attempting Wake Forest (15-3-4, 7-2-1 ACC) 19-7, USC (18-1-4, 10-0-1 Big Ten) could not find the back of the net when it mattered most. It was the first time this tournament that the Trojans found themselves behind on the scoreboard, and they were unable to recover. The last time USC trailed in any match was during a 2-1 loss to then-No. 1 Stanford (16-4-2, 5-4-1 ACC) on Sept. 8. Since that game, USC had played 17 matches without falling behind.

In the first 45 minutes of the match, USC failed to score nor defended effectively, allowing Wake Forest to take a 1-0 lead. The goal came from junior forward Caiya Hanks, a standout performer for the Demon Deacons throughout the tournament so far. With three goals and four assists through the quarterfinal round, Hanks now ranks in the top 10 for single-season points, goals and assists in Wake Forest program history.

Daily headlines, sent straight to your inbox.

Subscribe to our newsletter to keep up with the latest at and around USC.

The Trojans were able to strike back in the second half, scoring two goals in just 14 minutes to take the lead. The first score showcased a beautiful sequence of teamwork in pressing Wake Forest, beginning with freshman midfielder Ines Derrien’s crucial interception to regain possession. She then quickly passed the ball to sophomore forward Maribel Flores, who displayed excellent vision and composure to set up senior forward Simone Jackson, who delivered a clinical finish, bringing the Trojans back into the game with style.

Later on, senior forward Kayla Colbert put the Trojans ahead with a goal in the 58th minute. However, the Demon Deacons’ junior forward Alex Wood delivered a dramatic late equalizer, equalizing the contest at 2-2 and sending the game to extra time.

As the match continued, both teams could not find an opportunity to score until the second half of extra time, in which both teams took turns tracking back and defending with their backs against the wall. USC had a chance to score with a close-range shot from senior forward Maile Hayes and another golden opportunity for freshman midfielder Eleanor Morrissey, but sophomore goalkeeper Valentina Amaral denied both chances. These two crucial stops brought her up to a career-high six saves through regulation and extra time.

The match ultimately ended in a penalty shootout, which once again proved heartbreaking for the Trojans, mirroring their loss to Rutgers in the Big Ten Conference Tournament semifinal a few weeks ago.

It’s been an incredible season for USC women’s soccer, marked by an impressive 18-1-4 record and a magical undefeated run in its debut season in the Big Ten, finishing with a 10-0-1 conference record and clinching the first outright conference title this season.

As the final whistle blew, it also marked the end of an era for the team’s long list of senior players. Despite a deeply disappointing finish, the Trojan veterans had perhaps the best campaign of their careers to finish out their time in Los Angeles, concluding an important chapter in their collegiate careers at the top level.