Hopkinton’s Sean Farrell and the U.S. hockey team’s memorable run in the Beijing Olympics came to an end Wednesday with a heartbreaking shootout loss to Slovakia in the quarterfinal round.

Team USA was the top seed following its 3-0 performance in the qualifying round, but the Americans could not shake eighth-seeded Slovakia, which scored in the final minute of regulation to tie the score at 2.

After a scoreless overtime, the teams entered the shootout, in which a skater goes one-on-one against the opposing goalie. All five U.S. shooters, including Farrell, were unable to score. Slovakia’s Peter Cehlarik, a former Boston Bruin, scored on his team’s fourth attempt for the only goal.

It marks the third straight Olympics without a medal for Team USA, which was the youngest team in Beijing.

Farrell now will return to Harvard University to continue his freshman season.