The Denver Pioneers, not one to be held back by expectation, played into the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 for the first time since forming in 1983. But they will have to wait to make one more step.

Denver lost to No. 1-ranked and defending champion Stanford 3-0 on the Cardinal’s field Sunday, bumping the Pioneers from the playoffs.

Alex Doll’s goal for Stanford in the ninth minute held up as the game-winner as the Cardinal (20-1-1) advanced to play UCLA on Friday in the national quarterfinals. It was Doll’s sixth goal of the season.

“We just needed to generate something and create a goal to get back into the game,” DU coach Jeff Hooker said in a news release. “We didn’t pack it in, we didn’t go for a tie; we went out to try to win the game.”

DU (17-3-4) — which upset No. 9-ranked Maryland 3-2 in overtime Friday behind Nicholette DiGiacomo’s three goals — fell to 3-8 in the NCAA Tournament in team history.

Hooker rushed back to Denver on Saturday before his wife, Katie, an assistant coach on the team, gave birth to their daughter. But he returned to California in time for Sunday’s game.

Nina Watkins also scored for Stanford, in the 57th minute, and Chioma Ubogagu added a goal in the 78th minute.

DU, which relies on possession through the midfield, was effective against Stanford. But the Pioneers stuttered in the offensive third of the field. Stanford finished with eight shots on goal (and 22 total shots), while Denver failed to force Stanford goalkeeper Emily Oliver into a save.

“Having that athleticism and the experience that (Stanford) has speaks to the quality team they put on the field,” Hooker said. “When you watch them play, you can see a really good coach coaching really good players from a soccer standpoint and an athletic standpoint.”

Nick Groke: 303-954-1015, ngroke@denverpost.com or twitter.com/nickgroke

Denver … 0 – 0 — 0

Stanford … 1 – 2 — 3

First half — Stanford, Doll (Verloo), ninth minute. Second half — Stanford, Watkins (LaBonta), 57th; Ubogagu (Payne), 78th.

Starting lineups

Denver: Campbell, Riazi, Harder, Battelli, Larson, DiGiacomo, Pappalardo, Lieshout, Bast, Vaughn, Hamilton.

Stanford: Oliver, Griffen, Liedle, Quon, Thompson, Watkins, Nogueira, Doll, Verloo, Ubogagu, LaBonta.

Goalkeepers — Denver, Campbell, 83:38, five saves, three goals against; Khan, 6:22, 0-0. Stanford, Oliver, 83:38, 0-0; Gleason, 6:22, 0-0.