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There was a silver lining to it all, Katie Rogers said.

A long trip after a 1-0 defeat — much less one in the postseason to a conference rival — isn't usually easy to stomach. But for Rogers, a senior midfielder who saw her Utah soccer career end on Sunday afternoon, there was a gift to it: time.

"I'm a little sour, but I'm glad it happened in an away game, because it gives us some time to be with the team," she said. "I couldn't have asked for a better group to go out with."

The Utes (13-4-5) went out of the third round of the NCAA Tournament in a tight one in Los Angeles, ceding a goal in the 73rd minute against second-seeded USC (17-4-1) when Leah Pruitt buried a rebound off a corner kick.

The Utes had prepared for a defensive battle with the Trojans, whom they fought to a 1-1 draw in conference play in Salt Lake City. But playing on USC's home field, the Utes couldn't find an equalizer after the only shot of seven keeper July Mathias couldn't save crept through in a scrum near Utah's goal.

But the program didn't leave rainy Los Angeles with nothing: The Utes established a high watermark for the team's success with their first-ever Sweet 16 berth after stunning Florida State on Friday in the second round.

A sign of Utah's "contender" status: Falling to USC was only the second time the Utes had lost to a Pac-12 opponent this year.

In the previous meeting, Utah been able to score one past conference netminder of the year Sammy Jo Prudhomme. But Prudhomme and USC's top-ranked conference defense were tough on Sunday, saving all five of Utah's shots on frame.

Sophomore Hailey Skolmoski, who led the Pac-12 with 13 goals this year, couldn't get a shot on goal in the loss.

Still, Utah's disappointment is tempered by future optimism. After breaking a two-year drought without a postseason berth, the Sweet 16 team will graduate only four seniors, including Rogers, Taylor Slattery, Mikayla Elmer and Addie Jensen. Other key pieces, including Skolmoski, Mathias and a young defensive line, are expected to return.

"The barrier has been broken for Utah soccer," Rogers said. "We created a Utah record, and we believe records are made to be broken. I know that the players coming back can take it to the next level. We set the tone that we're for real."

Twitter: @kylegoon