AUSTIN, Texas The UTEP women’s soccer team saw its magical season come to an end with a 2-1 loss to sixth-ranked California in the second round of the NCAA Championship at Myers Stadium Sunday afternoon.

UTEP finishes the season with a program-best 20-4-1 final slate. Cal improves to 16-3-2 and advances to the round of 16 where it will face Florida State in Tallahassee, Fla, next weekend.

“We had a great season and I am very proud of our girls,” UTEP coach Kevin Cross said. “Cal did a nice job today and there is a reason they are number six in the country.”

Cal’s defense did a nice job of taking UTEP out of its offense early. The Bears took 21 shots to the Miners’ nine, including a 12-2 edge in the opening half.

Cal scored the first goal in the sixth minute when Dania Cobello scored from eight yards out on a pass from Liz Eisenberg.

The Golden Bears nearly added another in the 29th minute but Valerie Barnes’ shot on an open net from 17 yards rolled just outside the goal.

The Miners almost tied it just before the end of the half when Cortney Casey intercepted a pass 30 yards out, took two dribbles into an open spot and sent a shot that sailed just wide right of the goal.

Cal also held a 4-1 corner kick margin in the first half.

Susie Quezada came up big in the 56th minute with a clearance of a ball that was trickling into an empty net after Julia Schnugg’s attempt was altered in a crowd of players. Quezada played one of her better games as she made numerous clears and deflections on the left side of the field.

Cal added an insurance goal at the 71:07 mark when Valerie Barnes scored from three yards of a deflection in the box.

Cara Nordin made it a one-goal game at 83:44. After being fouled on a long run, her direct kick curled around the Cal wall and into the left corner of the goal. It was her 13th score of the season. She finished with a team-high four shots in the game.

“I just took a softer shot because my other shots had been sailing on me,” Nordin said.

The Miners continued to apply pressure but were unable to manage any more shot attempts as the Golden Bears ran out the final minutes in the corner of the UTEP end of the field.