Los Angeles ? Kansas University’s soccer team saw its dream season come to an end Friday night because it got pushed around by a bigger and stronger group of Bruins from No. 2 UCLA.

The Bruins were twice as big, twice as strong and, at times, twice as fast as No. 16 Kansas. All that muscle and power led to a few miscues by the Jayhawks, and UCLA eventually made them pay in a 1-0 decision in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Women’s Soccer Tournament.

“I don’t think we had our best performance today,” KU sophomore forward Caroline Smith said. “I think we were a little intimidated by them. Because they were bigger than us, we didn’t want to get knocked around or anything.

“I don’t think we played as well as we could have, but we still had a couple of good chances in there. We just didn’t quite connect.”

The few shots that Kansas managed never found the net, but the result didn’t dampen the spirits of fifth-year coach Mark Francis. As physically dominating as the Bruins were, KU held up much better against them than most other teams have this year.

“I was very proud of our team,” Francis said. “I thought we hung in there against a very good team. They’ve been killing everybody, and we lose 1-nothing.”

Junior goalkeeper Meghan Miller bailed out the Jayhawks with a half-dozen acrobatic saves, but one finally squeaked by.

In the 43rd minute, Sarah-Gayle Swanson flicked a shot through a crowd of Kansas defenders and UCLA forwards from seven yards out. Miller made a good read on it, but the shot was just a bit out of reach. She dove, clipped it with her fingertips, and the topspin carried it inside the near post for the game’s lone goal.

“I got a piece of it,” Miller said, “which kind of pisses me off, because when I get a piece of it obviously I think I should have it.”

Kansas University freshman jessica kilpatrick, right, and UCLA's Whitney Jones fight for a possession. UCLA edged the Jayhawks, 1-0, in the round of 16 at the NCAA Tournament Friday in Los Angeles.

There was no faulting KU’s All-Big 12 keeper. Not after the pressure she withstood.

UCLA (19-1-3) made it clear it wanted to rattle the Jayhawks (18-6-1) with its physical advantages from the get-go, getting whistled for a foul just seconds into the game. Within six minutes Miller already had weathered two close calls.

Any time Kansas tried to clear the ball and create an offensive opportunity, the Bruins’ midfield stole an errant pass or bumped the Jayhawks off the ball. KU was held without a shot in the first half for the first time all season.

Meanwhile, UCLA fired seven in the first half and 13 for the game.

“They were fast, and they knew they were fast, so they kind of took their speed to us,” KU senior defender Maggie Mason said.

The Jayhawks didn’t roll over after the goal, however. Instead, about 250 Kansas fans in attendance became loud, and the Jayhawks responded with better passes and more aggression. They started winning more balls in the air and developing a rhythm offensively.

Junior midfielder Lauren Williams broke free in the 61st minute and fired from 18 yards out for KU’s first shot. She later snuck a pass down the end line to Smith for a point-blank shot that UCLA goalie Arianna Criscione swallowed. It was Kansas’ last chance.

“You can’t fault our effort,” Miller said. “Caroline’s 5-2, and she’s up there battling with a girl that’s a foot taller than she is. All over the field — in the back or the midfield — everybody was fighting for balls. We left it on the field today.”