Making it to the final 16 of the NCAA Tournament would seem to be a significant achievement.

And 12-4-5 certainly isn't a bad record.

All in all, the No. 11 Cal men's soccer team will take its 2008 campaign as a good season. But there are still some nagging memories.

"I think the one that hurt us the most was the weekend at home against UCLA and San Diego State with the loss and the tie," goalkeeper Stefan Frei said. "It was kind of devastating, losing to UCLA on penalty kicks. We knew that we were playing hard and we had to win, but it just wasn't happening."

That weekend came in the middle of the Pac-10 season, and dealt a serious blow to the Bears' hopes of a third straight conference title. Cal would finish the season in second place behind the Bruins. But that slump also seemed to kick-start a team that had opened the season with high promise.

"Right after that weekend we woke up," midfielder Servando Carrasco said. "We started playing the soccer we know how to play. It was a reality check."

The Bears started out the season with high expectations, picked as the favorite in the Pac-10. And Cal would race out of the gates, rising to the No. 6 ranking after a good performance in their nonconference games.

"I thought we had a tougher preseason schedule than before," Frei said. "It was good that we had a tougher schedule, though. We had some big wins against Maryland and Creighton. And the competition definitely helped prepare us."

Their nonconference opponents included three preseason top-10 teams, including the Terrapins, the Bluejays and SMU. By the time Pac-10 play started, the Bears boasted a 5-1-2 record and top-10 ranking.

But rather than big wins or great goals, the players remember the season in different terms.

"I guess one thing to get from the season was the way we dealt with adversity," Carrasco said. "We lost three starters to injuries, and that would be big for any team. I think the way the players stepped up definitely shouldn't go unnoticed."

Lost to injury was senior center-back Tyler Barry, who tore his ACL against UCLA on October 10. An anchor on the backline, Barry's absence caused a shift in the lineup, especially coupled with the absence of fellow defender Imaan Kerchgani due to injury.

But despite the shifts in players-which included converting forward Jacob Wilson into a central defender-the defense continued to be one of the best in the conference, grounded by Frei in goal. The redshirt junior now ranks fourth in the Cal record books in shutouts, but will join the several seniors leaving at the end of the year in order to pursue a professional career.

"I would like to think our strength is our defense," Frei said. "I think next year with such a defensive-minded coach we will probably still be a good defensive team, but you have to wait and see who is coming in and will step up. There are a couple of seniors leaving, but I think the team has players who will step up and command the team."

The Bears suffered another crucial loss when Hector Jimenez-the Pac-10 assist leader-broke his leg when he was cut down by a Washington defender in the penultimate game of the season.

"We had some tough losses with personnel-losing Tyler and Hector hurt us," Frei said. "But I think the guys that came in did really well. I'm proud of the guys, they played hard all season."

Despite the abrupt end to his season, Jimenez joined teammates Frei and Andrew Wiedeman on the all-Pac-10 first team, one of six Cal players to be honored. Carrasco, sophomore A.J. Soares and Barry were all named to the second team, with three more Bears earning honorable mentions.

And with the season over after the third-round loss to Maryland, there is already a circled date on the schedule.

"Of course I am looking forward to next year," Carrasco said. "We get to play Maryland at their place next year. I wish them the best in the rest of the tournament, but we are going to be coming straight at them."

Tags: CAL MEN'S SOCCER, KIRK EVERIST, FRANK REYNOLDS, TRENT CALDER