Gauchos soccer run ends one win short of Final Four

RALEIGH, North Carolina.- The unseeded UCSB men's soccer team finally ran out of magic but not without throwing everything they had at #4 Wake Forest in an NCAA Tournament quarterfinal game.

Wake Forest never trailed in its 1-0 win against UC Santa Barbara, but the Demon Deacons did need to weather the Gauchos' first-half onslaught.

USCB had seven shots in the opening stanza, none more dangerous than a point-blank chance from Noah Billingsley in the 40th minute. Wake Forest keeper Andrew Pannenberg came up with a huge stop to keep the match scoreless.

Then, in the waning seconds of the half, captain Alistair Johnston maneuvered through the Gauchos back line unassisted to break the deadlock.

UCSB ends the year 15-5-4. The Gauchos beat Cal at home and then won at Saint Mary's and at #5 Indiana to reach the quarterfinals.