FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.– A very memorable 2024 season came to an end for the No. 25 California women's soccer team Friday night as the Golden Bears were defeated by No. 5 Arkansas 1-0 in the second round of the NCAA Championship.
 
While the Bears (13-6-2) were shutout for just the second time this season, they also held the top offense in the country to a single goal in a wire-to-wire battle. In 20 matches this season the Hogs have only been held to a goal or less seven times.
 
After a scoreless first half, Arkansas (16-2-2) netted the match's only goal in the 65^th minute off the boot of Bella Field. The Hogs outshot the Bears 18-5 and placed 10 of those on frame.
 
Cal goalkeeper Teagan Wy closed out her junior season with another impressive performance making seven saves. She averaged 5.66 saves per game in the Bears' final three contests, all of which were against top 25 opponents.
 
The Bears made the absolute most of their first season in the ACC finishing in seventh place out of 17 teams with a conference record of 5-4-1 that included wins over No. 16 Pitt and No. 14 Stanford. On the individual side the senior forward Karlie Lema was named ACC Offensive Player of the Year and First Team All-ACC making her the first Bear to earn a major conference award in five years. Lema was the nation's leading goal scorer for several weeks and finished with 16 goals and six assists for 38 points. Additionally, Wy was named Second Team All-ACC.
 
This was Cal's 28th NCAA Championship appearance in program history and its first trip to the second round in 10 years.
 
Arkansas now moves on to the sweet 16 and will No. 14 Stanford Sunday night.