Read a recap covering the heartbreak and joy of a men’s college soccer sweet sixteen offering plenty of goals, penalty shootouts, and a few upsets.

Penalty Heartbreak

Both Hofstra and Western Michigan saw their historic seasons end at the peril of penalty kick shootouts within minutes of one another. The Broncos missed their first two attempts against Notre Dame after a 0-0 score line through overtime, and Hofstra missed just one kick, but that was enough to lose to North Carolina after a 2-2 game. It was a valiant effort by two Mid-Major programs away from home, but ultimately, the ACC saw two additional teams advance.

Call an Ambulance . . . But Not for Me

All looked normal when SMU, at home, scored in the 7th minute to go up 1-0 versus Oregon State. Then the Beavers quit playing possum and scored SEVEN unanswered goals to blow past the Mustangs. In an offensive showing with no parallels in recent college soccer, Logan Farrington and Dante Williams led the way with four goals and three assists between the two as Oregon State repeatedly caught SMU on the break, putting on an absolute clinic for the ages.

Last night, @BeaverMSoccer went off with SEVEN goals. Here is all of them.

💻 ESPN+ #NCAASoccer pic.twitter.com/dLu86I8749

— NCAA Soccer (@NCAASoccer) November 26, 2023

Cardinal Message

With a 3-0 blowout of previous tournament favorite Marshall, Stanford sends a message heard around the college soccer world. Between two goal-line clearances from Noah Adnan, an impressive team move assisted by Shane de Flores and scored by Will Reilly, plus goals from Liam Doyle and Jackson Kiil, the Cardinals put on a thoroughly dominant performance.

FEAR THE TREE

💻 ESPN+ #NCAASoccer x @StanfordMSoccer pic.twitter.com/jnJMi2u5VP

— NCAA Soccer (@NCAASoccer) November 26, 2023

Here come the Hoosiers

Don’t look now, but last year’s national finalists have won eight in a row and look better with each performance. Freshman standout Collins Oduro scored the lone goal as Indiana limited Virginia to just three shots on target. An in-state rivalry game at Notre Dame is next on the docket as this team continues to build immense momentum.

11' | Oduro opens the scoring!@Collinso_11 | #IUMS pic.twitter.com/3BAKCXRgur

— Indiana Men's Soccer (@IndianaMSOC) November 26, 2023

Country Roads

A 2-1 victory over Vermont means West Virginia reaches the NCAA quarterfinals for the second time in three years after failing to do so since 1981. The best goal was a moment of world-class creativity from Yutaro Tsukada as he chipped the ball over the keeper, similar to a FIFA Puskas Award-nominated goal Lionel Messi scored in 2011.

A dream start for the Mountaineers!

📺ESPN+#HailWV pic.twitter.com/kCZU731Amv

— WVU Men's Soccer (@WVUMensSoccer) November 25, 2023

British Connection

Loyola Marymount looked upon its British contingency to secure a trip to the NCAA quarterfinals as London-born Tyger Smalls played a pass across the six that Herne Bay-born Ryan Kingsford converted into an empty net. The Lions will now play in the Elite Eight for the first time in program history.

All Aboard the Clemson Train

The Orange are a team to look out for, unbeaten in eleven, fresh of an ACC championship, no goals conceded in the NCAA tournament, and hosting a quarterfinal game. And do not forget this staff won the 2021 College Cup, as it knows what it takes to peak at the right moments and win it all. Clemson is a team no one wants to face.