Memphis women's soccer lost to Pitt 3-0 in the third round of the NCAA tournament Sunday.

The Tigers' season ends in the Sweet 16 game, 364 days after their 2022 season concluded on the same field in Fayetteville, Arkansas. No. 8 Memphis, which had won 17 straight games, finishes with a 20-2 record.

Following the game, Memphis coach Brooks Monaghan had already begun the compartmentalization process.

“Right now, it just hurts,” he said. “Haven’t felt this in a long time. But trying not to focus on this one day, but the whole last three or four months."

Amid heavy rainfall and a soggy pitch, No. 11 Pitt (17-5-1) broke a scoreless tie shortly after intermission, in the 51st minute, on a Keera Melenhorst goal. The back-to-the-goal, pseudo bicycle kick came seconds after Sarah Schupansky's corner kick. Melenhorst's over-the-shoulder ball lasered past Memphis keeper Kaylie Bierman, who tied a career high with six saves.

The Panthers tacked on another goal in the 75th minute when Deborah Abiodun skipped the ball past Bierman off the back of her right foot. Pitt got an insurance goal in the 87th minute, courtesy of Aliya Gomes' header into an empty net.

Memphis entered the game having allowed just 10 goals all season.

“I think the athleticism of Pitt took over at times,” Monaghan said. “You’ve got to do some things really well in certain matchups. So, that is (a) credit to Pitt.”

The Tigers' only other loss this season came by a 2-1 score at Alabama on Aug. 27. It's the first time they have been shut out since Sept. 15, 2022 (0-0 tie versus UCF). Memphis finished with seven shots on goal (to Pitt's 10).

The last time the Tigers gave up more than two goals in a game was against Arkansas on Nov. 20, 2022, in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament. Memphis went into Sunday's game holding opponents to just 7.4 shots per match, but Pitt recorded 19.

The Tigers' performances of the past two seasons put the program in "the upper echelon," according to Monaghan.

“What they’ve done this year is remarkable," he said. "What we’ve done, it’s not supposed to happen at our school, coming up against the giants. (Back-to-back Sweet 16 appearances), no matter what happens going forward, it elevates you to a different level."

MEMPHIS MEN'S SOCCER: Historic season ends with NCAA Tournament 2nd-round loss vs UNC

Pitt advances to the Elite Eight for the first time in program history, where it will face Florida State.

Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com or follow him @munzly on X, the social media app formerly known as Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis women's soccer loses to Pitt in third round of NCAA Tournament