The NCAA men’s soccer tournament has only 48 teams, so the 16 top seeds all get first-round byes followed by a second-round home game against a team that played three days earlier and had to travel.
It would seem to be an advantage.
This year, not so much.
One seed after another tumbled throughout Sunday, No. 1 and defending champion Vermont, No. 2 Virginia, No. 3 Princeton, No. 5 SMU, No. 6 Indiana … all eliminated on their home fields.
Then the West Coast games started, and another one bit the dust: No. 9 University of San Diego, 2-1 against the Grand Canyon Antelopes at muddy Torero Stadium.
Grand Canyon got a controversial goal in the 88th minute from superstar Senegalese freshman Junior Diouf in a classic smash-and-grab victory followed by a heated fracas at midfield between the teams.
The Antelopes, then, advance to their first Sweet 16 next weekend against either No. 8 Portland or Denver, who played later Sunday night. The Toreros, ranked No. 3 in the Top Drawer Soccer poll, see one of the best seasons in school history come to an abrupt, maddening end.
“Today, soccer was cruel to us,” said senior defender Simon Duus Muller, who was involved in the decisive goal, “even though we might have deserved some more.”
The situation:
The Toreros had equalized in the 66th minute after surrendering an early goal and losing starting center back Josh Martinez to an injury, and they appeared to have the upper hand as the game moved into the closing moments of regulation. With the Antelopes absorbing one attack after another, they played it over the top to the speedy Diouf, whose 17 goals are the most by a freshman in Division I in 15 years.
As the ball arrived into open space, Diouf and Duus Muller chased after it. Suddenly, Duus Muller was sprawled on the turf ravaged by a record rainfall and Diouf was heading unabated to goal.
Duus Muller: “I got on the right side of the striker. All I remember is my leg getting kicked and that hit my other leg, and that’s how I tripped. I went in front of him and he kicked my leg. … I’m pretty sure I would have got to the ball first. That’s when I went down.”
Grand Canyon’s Junior Diouf (9) celebrates after scoring during the second half against San Diego in the second round of the NCAA men’s soccer tournament, Nov. 23, 2025 in San Diego, Calif. (Photo by Denis Poroy)
Diouf: “I was focusing on the ball. I feel like he hit my foot when I was running. I was in front, so I didn’t know what’s going on behind me.”
USD goalkeeper Lucca Adams came out, and the WAC offensive player of the year calmly chipped the ball over him into the empty net for his 18th goal in 21 games. It was his only shot of the night.
It was the third straight year the Toreros’ season ended in heartbreaking fashion at home. In 2023, they were eliminated by Cal Baptist in a penalty shootout. Last year, a controversial penalty kick in sudden-death overtime by eventual champion Vermont in the Sweet 16.
USD didn’t have the capacity for video review of the foul last year, but the West Coast Conference implemented new regulations this season, mandating a video review area at all games and allowing coaches one challenge. Toreros coach Brian Quinn used it several times to have calls reversed, and Sunday night he made the universal motion to request another, outlining an imaginary TV monitor with his hands.
Referee Brandon Stevis shook his head. The goal stood.
San Diego’s Steven Ramirez (9) lies on the field after San Diego lost to Grand Canyon in the second round of the NCAA men’s soccer tournament, Nov. 23, 2025 in San Diego, Calif. (Photo by Denis Poroy)
NCAA Tournament rules are different, and Quinn said he was told in a pre-game meeting that any video review was at the discretion of the referee.
“Initially, it looked like (Duus Muller) slipped,” Quinn said, “but when you talk to your players, he felt he was fouled. And then some of our guys said the ball may have hit the referee as well. There could have been two instances that were reviewable.
“He could have had a look and decided, ‘I don’t want to change my call,’ which he’s well within his jurisdiction to do. But have a look, even if you don’t change your decision. Why are we having video review?”
Added forward Jaxson Findlay, who assisted on Iain Wagner’s equalizer: “We were knocking at the door the whole half. It kind of sucks for it to go that way. We all went up to the ref and said, ‘This is a big moment. You have to check it. At least check it and see what you see.’ And he just kept saying, ‘I’m not allowed to. I can’t.’ I don’t know, it’s all very frustrating.”
For Grand Canyon (14-3-5), it extended their unbeaten streak to 10 games, including Thursday’s first-round at UCLA that went to PKs after a 0-0 tie through regulation and 20 minutes of overtime.
For USD (13-3-3), it is their first loss at Torero Stadium since last year’s NCAA Tournament.
Even Antelopes coach George Kiefer conceded: “This game will rip your heart out.”