NCAA women’s soccer championship: Sweet Sixteen highlights and Elite Eight matchups

Third round competition in the 2020-21 DI women’s soccer championship concluded on Wednesday night, sending eight lucky teams to the quarterfinals.

Weather delays and late-game comebacks made for a dramatic Sweet Sixteen.

Highlights:

No. 14 Clemson knocked out the No. 3 seed UCLA on Wednesday, advancing the Tigers to their first Elite Eight appearance since 2006. The game was decided on a sixth penalty kick, with both teams converting their first five from the line. Hensley Hancuff, Clemson’s keeper, came up big, denying UCLA their final PK to secure her team a quarterfinal spot over the Bruins.

THIS IS WHAT WE DO 😎

Elite Eight 🔜 pic.twitter.com/C7p6Ybrm5q

— Clemson Women's Soccer (@clemsonwsoccer) May 6, 2021

No. 4 seed TCU held off No. 13 Georgetown on penalty kicks as well.

After going down 0-1 in the first half, TCU played from behind for most of the game, with a late equalizer by Michelle Slater sending the teams into extra time. Scoreless after two periods of overtime, the game would be decided on penalty kicks. TCU scored three PKs in a row, overcoming Georgetown’s early advantage and sending the Horned Frogs to the Elite Eight.

Incredible PK performance from @emily_sofia14! 🤯#GoFrogs | #NCAASoccer | #GKunion pic.twitter.com/3mXbAFxwqF

— TCU Soccer (@TCUSoccer) May 6, 2021

Full Sweet Sixteen results:

• No. 9 Duke defeated Ole Miss 1- 0
• No. 7 Texas A&M defeated No. 10 Oklahoma State 3-3 (penalty kicks 4-3)
• No. 1 Florida State defeated Penn State 3- 1
• No. 2 North Carolina defeated Washington 1-0
• No. 4 TCU defeated No. 13 Georgetown 1-1 (penalty kicks 3-1)
• No. 14 Clemson defeated No. 3 UCLA 1-1 (penalty kicks 6-5)
• Virginia defeated Rice 3-0
• No. 11 Santa Clara defeated No. 6 Arkansas 2- 0

⚽️ DI Women’s #NCAASoccer Bracket Update ⚽️

Feeling pretty ELITE going into QUARTERFINALS 🤩! pic.twitter.com/C0vaMS95kn

— NCAA Soccer (@NCAASoccer) May 6, 2021

Elite Eight matchups (Sunday, May 9):

• No. 1 Florida State vs. No. 9 Duke, 1 p.m. ET
• No. 2 North Carolina vs. No. 7 Texas A&M 1 p.m. ET
• No. 11 Santa Clara vs. No. 14 Clemson 5 p.m. ET
• No. 4 TCU vs. Virginia 5 p.m. ET