The 2024 NIRSA national soccer championship was the 30th NIRSA National Soccer Championships, the annual national championships for United States-based, collegiate club soccer teams organized by NIRSA. It took place at the Round Rock Multipurpose Complex, in Round Rock, Texas from Thursday, November 21 to Saturday, November 23, 2024. This tournament also featured an amputee soccer division in partnership with the USA Function Fitness (USAFF).[1][2][3][4][5]
Overview
Men's championship
The finals featured a rematch of the 2019 national title game between four consecutive, reigning champions, BYU, and the 2014 national champions, Ohio State. Prior to this, in the group stage, BYU extended their current 17-game national tournament win streak with two wins, first against Nebraska 4–0 then against Boston University 2–1 to top their group. Meanwhile, Ohio State would also win their opener, a 2–1 win against Tulsa but would end up finishing second in their group after they tied reigning quarterfinalist Georgia Tech 0–0 due to Georgia Tech's superior 4–0 win against Tulsa in the group stage.
In the knockout round, BYU would first defeat pool D runner-up and reigning open champion Miami (OH) 1–0 in the round of 16 then would defeat fellow region 6 opponent and regional champion Cal Poly 3–1 in the quarterfinals to advance to their fifth consecutive final four. Meanwhile, Ohio State would first defeat pool C winners and region II tournament champions UCF then would defeat fellow regional co-champion and 2008 national champions Indiana, both by a score of 3–0, to advance to their second straight final four. In the semifinals, BYU would defeat Georgia Tech 5–0 behind 4 first half goals in a rematch of last year's quarterfinal that required extra time while Ohio State would defeat 2021 runners-up and 1995 national champions, Texas, by a score of 1–0.
In the finals, the game would be deadlocked 0–0 after halftime and regulation, meaning two 10-minute overtime periods would be required, the first time since 2018. The game would again remain scoreless following overtime, meaning penalties would have to determine a champion for the first time since 2012. In the shootout, BYU would kick first but Ohio State's goalkeeper Reese Delahanty would save the opening kick from Evan Smith with a trailing foot. Ohio State's Eric Reed would then make the first kick for Ohio State and give them a 1 goal advantage that they would hold until the fourth round. In the fourth round, Ohio State's Dawson Meldrum kicked his attempt over the bar, tying the match at 3–3. Following a conversion from BYU's Brayden Gonder and a save from BYU's keeper Chris Jenkinson, it appeared BYU had won. However, controversially, several seconds after the match referee had blown his whistle signaling full time later reversed the decision deeming Jenkinson left his line early resulting in a re-kick that Ohio State's Asher Laackman would convert. In the sixth round, Delahanty would save Isaiah Strong's attempt for BYU but Jenkinson would force another round following a save of Jacob Honner's attempt for Ohio State. Both teams converted in the seventh round then, following a make from BYU's James Dunning in the 8th round, Jenkinson would save Ohio State's 8th attempt from Youssof Mitiek to win the 2024 national title.
This would be BYU's 11th NIRSA national title and fifth-straight, breaking their own record of most consecutive national titles with four from 1996-1999 and tying UC-Santa Barbara's women's team for most consecutive titles across all four divisions. This also extended their national championship win streak to 23 games, the second longest of all time only behind their own streak of 28 from 1996-1999. BYU's Talmage Woodhouse, who scored the winning goal in the previous title game and a penalty in the fourth round of kicks in the finals, would be named tournament MVP with Chris Jenkinson being named the tournament's best goalkeeper after only conceding twice during the tournament and making the game winning save in the penalty shootout.[6][7]
Women's championship
The finals consisted of the winners of the previous two tournaments, 2023 champions, UCLA, and 2022 champions, Cal Poly. Prior to this, in the group stage, both teams would top their group. UCLA would defeat UMass 5–0 in their opener followed by a 1–0 win over 2012 champions Michigan State. Meanwhile, Cal Poly would tie their opener to region II tournament champions Georgia but a 4-1 over Harvard would be enough to top their group.
In the knockout round, UCLA would defeat Northeastern 3–0 in the round of 16 then would remain tied with Texas A&M 1–1 after regulation, requiring penalties. UCLA would then prevail 3–2 in penalty kicks to advance to their second straight final four. Meanwhile, Cal Poly would defeat 8-time champions UC-Santa Barbara 2–0 in the round of 16 then would defeat 2004 co-champions Colorado 1–0 to advance to their fourth straight final four. In the semifinals, UCLA would defeat Georgia 2–0 to make their second straight finals while Cal Poly would finish their game against 2005 champions Michigan 0–0 after regulation and extra time, sending Cal Poly to their second penalty shootout in 3 games. Cal Poly would win 6–5 to set up a rematch of last year's semifinal match that UCLA won 2–0.
In the finals, the game would be deadlocked 0–0 at halftime. With roughly 10 minutes remaining, an errant touch by UCLA in their box led to a turnover with possession being won by Cal Poly's Vanessa von Sosen who passed it to Hanna Crawford whose initial shot was blocked by UCLA's Megan Go but recovered by Crawford leading to her getting fouled by UCLA's Sadie Lahey-Teare, who had the initial errant touch, leading to Cal Poly being awarded the penalty. Cal Poly's Crawford would take the kick and shoot to the left side of the goal while UCLA's goalkeeper, Lindsay Felder, would move towards the right side of the goal leading to a conversion with 9 minutes remaining, giving Cal Poly the 1–0 advantage. UCLA would be unable to equalize, giving Cal Poly the victory and securing their 2nd title in 3 years. UCLA's Megan Go would be awarded the tournament MVP, marking the first time in the 30 year history of the tournament an MVP was named for a non-champion team.[8]
Men's open
In the finals, 2022 open champions UCLA would face 2022 championship runners-up Minnesota. Prior to this, in the group stage, both teams would top their groups with 3 wins out of 3 games. UCLA would defeat Iowa State 2–0, 2007 open runners-up Kansas 3–0, and 2000 champions Penn State 2–0, respectively, while Minnesota would defeat High Point 3–0, Sacred Heart 4–0, and 2007 champions UC-Santa Barbara 2–1.
In the knockout round, UCLA would defeat UC-Santa Barbara 1–0 in the quarterfinals then would defeat 2011 champions 2–1 to advance to their 2nd title game in 3 years and 3rd title game in 5 tournaments. Meanwhile, Minnesota would defeat 2014 national runners-up San Diego State 3–2 then 2021 open champions Boston College 3–0 to advance to their first open finals. In the finals, the game would remain deadlocked 0–0 after regulation and extra times, meaning penalties would be needed to determine an open champion for the first time since 2012. Minnesota would win 8–7 in penalties to claim their first open title. Minnesota's Henry Elias would be named tournament MVP.[9]
Women's open
In the finals, 2011 open champions Missouri would face 2001 open champions Colorado "Black". Prior to this, in the group stage, both teams would top their groups by winning all three games. Missouri would first defeat Vermont 1–0, UC-Irvine 2–1, then Colorado School of the Mines 2–0 while Colorado "Black" won their opener 2–1 over Arkansas, then won 2–0 over Central Michigan, and finally Arizona 4–1.
In the knockout round, Missouri would defeat Oregon "Green" 3–0 in the quarterfinals then would overcome a 2–1 halftime deficit with a 4-goal second half to defeat 2016 open champions Virginia Tech 5–4 in the semifinals to advance to the finals. Meanwhile, Colorado "Black" would defeat 2018 runners-up UC-Davis 2–0 then would defeat 2010 open champions Illinois 1–0 to advance to their 5th open division championship game. In the finals, Colorado "Black" would score first and would take that lead into halftime but a second half Missouri goal would leave the game deadlocked 1–1 after regulation, meaning the championship game would go into overtime for the second consecutive year and for the third time in the last four years. However, overtime would remain goalless, meaning penalties would be required to determine a champion for the first time since 2012. In the shootout, Colorado "Black" would prevail 4–1 and claim their second open national title and become the only "B" or second team from a university to claim multiple open titles. Colorado "Black's Kylie Schultz would be named the tournament MVP.[10]
The competition consisted of 96 teams partitioned into 48 men's teams and 48 women's teams. Each of these partitions were further divided into two 24-team divisions, an invite-only championship division and an open division. These divisions were finally be divided into groups, eight groups of three teams each in championship divisions and six groups of four teams each in the open divisions. All four divisions engaged in a round-robin tournament where they played each team in their group and utilized the three points for a win system to determine teams able to advance to the single elimination, knockout stage. In the championship division, the two highest ranked teams from each group advanced to their knockout stage, with the third placed team advancing to the consolation bracket. In the open division, the top team from each group as well as the two best second placed teams advanced to their knockout stage. The primary criteria for determining the best team will be points followed by the following:
Tie-breaking criteria for group play
The ranking of teams in each group was based on the following criteria in order:
In a tie breaking scenario involving more than 2 teams, the tiebreaker procedure would begin. If one team is identified as different and both remaining teams are still tied, the tie breaker procedure is restarted.
If a tie still remained after the first 5 criteria, the following was used to break a tie:
If there was a three-way tie, a coin-flip would be conducted. The two teams that chose the same outcome would compete in kicks from the mark between each other. The winner would compete with the last remaining team in kicks from the mark
If there's a four-way tie, a drawing of lots would be conducted (only could occur in open division)
Pool play games were two 40-minute halves, separated by a seven-minute halftime. Knockout stage games also consisted of two 40-minute halves. The round of 16 and quarterfinals were separated by a seven-minute halftime while the semifinals and finals had a ten-minute halftime. Knockout stage games need to declare a winner. If a knockout-stage game was tied at the end of regulation, overtime would begin. Overtime consisted of two, 10-minute periods played in their entirety. If still tied after overtime, kicks from the mark would determine the winner.[11]
Seeding
In the championship division, teams advancing to the knockout round were placed on opposite ends of the bracket as the other team in their group. The first round matches were against 1st placed teams vs 2nd placed teams with pairings being pools A vs D, pools H vs E, pools G vs F, and pools B vs C. Following this round, the winner of the A vs D match would face the winner of the H vs E match while the winner of the G vs F match would face the winner of the B vs C match. In the consolation bracket, the first round pairings were pools A vs E, pools F vs B, pools C vs G, and pools H vs D with the winner of the A vs E match facing the winner of the F vs B match and the winner of the C vs G match facing the winner of the H vs D match.
In the open division, the bracket was numbered top to bottom from 1–8. First, the highest ranked wildcard team was placed in position 4 with the other wildcard team being placed in position 8. Then, the pool winner from the group with the wildcard team in position 4 was placed in position 5 and the pool winner from the group with the wildcard team in position 8 was placed in position 1. Finally, using the tiebreaking procedures, the highest ranked remaining group winning team was placed in position 3, the second highest was placed in position 7, the third highest placed in position 2, and the final being placed in position 6.[12]
Each of the six regions received three automatic bids for both the men's and women's championship that they awarded to its members. The final six bids were considered "at-large", and were given out by NIRSA to teams, typically based on the regional tournament results and RPI.[13]
The 48 remaining teams participated in the open division and were selected via a lottery draw that aired on October 9, 2024, at 12pm EST. Any team with membership in a NIRSA-affiliated league or with a minimum of four games played prior to the tournament was able to enter their name into the lottery. If a selected team qualified for the championship division, an alternate took their spot.[14][15]
In a tie breaking scenario involving more than 2 teams, the tiebreaker procedure would begin as normal. If one team is identified as different and both remaining teams are still tied, the tie breaker procedure is restarted.
If a tie still remained after the first 5 criteria, the following was used to break a tie:
If there was a three-way tie, a coin-flip would be conducted. The two teams that chose the same outcome would compete in kicks from the mark between each other. The winner would compete with the last remaining team in kicks from the mark
If there's a four-way tie, a drawing of lots would be conducted (only could occur in open division)
