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The 2017 NIRSA national soccer championship was the 24th NIRSA National Soccer Championships, the annual national championships for United States-based, collegiate club soccer teams organized by NIRSA. It took place at Reach 11 Sports Complex, in Phoenix, Arizona from Thursday, November 16 to Saturday, November 18, 2017.

Overview

Men's championship

In the finals, the most successful club in the division, BYU, made their NIRSA return after a 15-year hiatus after participating in USL League Two where they would face finals debutants Cal Poly. Prior to this, in the group stage, BYU would defeat 2012 champions Michigan State 3–1 in the opener then UPenn 5–0 to top their group while Cal Poly would tie region II tournament champions NC State 0–0 but a 7–1 win over UConn would be enough to top the group over NC State who beat UConn 6–1.

In the knockout round, BYU would defeat 2015 champions North Carolina 2–0 in the round of 16 then would defeat NC State 1–0 in the quarterfinals, to face Wisconsin, who defeated reigning champions Virginia in the round of 16, in the semifinals. Meanwhile, Cal Poly would defeat 2010 champions Colorado 3–0 in the round of 16 then defeat Michigan State 2–1 in the quarterfinals to face 2009 runners-up Florida. BYU would defeat 3–1 to advance to their 7th national title game while Cal Poly would defeat Florida 1–0 to advance to their first national title game.

In the finals, BYU started early with a goal in the 19th minute, then continued to control the game by scoring three more uncontested goals, including a brace from eventual MVP Tanner Whitworth, in a 4–1 victory and would claim their 6th national title in their first year back in the league. This is the most in the men's division and the second most across all 4 divisions, only behind UC-Santa Barbara who would claim their 8th national title this tournament.

Women's championship

In the finals, the division's most successful club, UC-Santa Barbara, would make their 10th national championship game to face Texas in a rematch of the 2010 national title that UC-Santa Barbara won in penalties. Prior to this, in the group stage, UC-Santa Barbara would tie 1–1 to region II tournament finalist, Florida but a 3–0 win over Ohio would be enough to top their group. Meanwhile, Texas would defeat both teams in their group 2–1, first UC-Davis then Vermont.

In the knockout round, UC-Santa Barbara would defeat Vermont 1–0 in the round of 16 then would defeat Cal Poly 1–0 in the quarterfinals to face 2001 champions Penn State while Texas would defeat Florida 1–0 in the round of 16 then Wisconsin 2–1 in the quarterfinals to face 2004 co-champion Colorado. UC-Santa Barbara would defeat Penn State 4–0 while Texas would defeat Colorado 1–0 to set up a rematch of the 2010 national title.

In the finals, eventual MVP Mariela Cisneros of UC-Santa Barbara opened the scoring 20 minutes into the game in an eventual 3–0 win. This was UC-Santa Barbara's 8th, and second consecutive, title; the most titles across all four divisions.

Men's open

In the finals, debutants Arizona faced 1995 men's championship winner, Texas, making their 4th finals appearance and the first open finals appearance as the main team. A first half goal would be enough to see Arizona win 1–0 for their first men's open title in their first title game. Karai Keil of Arizona would be named men's open MVP.

Women's open

In the finals, Colorado's "Black" team would face Oregon. Oregon took an early lead but Colorado tied the game in the second half. A late goal from Meghan Schroeder of Oregon would see Oregon win their first ever title in their 3rd finals appearance.

Format

The competition consisted of 96 teams: 48 men's teams and 48 women's teams. Each of these divisions were further divided into two 24-team divisions: the championship and open. The championship division divided teams into eight groups of three while the open division divided teams into six groups of four, both engaging in a round-robin tournament that determined teams able to advance to a knockout stage. Pool play games were two 40-minute halves, separated by a seven-minute halftime and utilized the three points for a win system. In the championship division, the two highest ranked teams from each group advanced to their knockout stage, with the third placed team advancing to a 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.

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 needed to declare a winner. If a knockout-stage game was tied at the end of regulation, overtime would begin. Overtime consisted of one, 15-minute, golden-goal period. If still tied after overtime, kicks from the mark would determine the winner.

Qualification and selection

Each of the six regions received three automatic bids for both the men's and women's championship that they award to its members. The final six bids are considered "at-large", and are given out by NIRSA to teams, typically based on the regional tournament results and RPI.

The 48 remaining teams participating in the open division were selected via a lottery draw that aired on YouTube on October 3, 2017, at 1pm PST. Any team with membership in a NIRSA-affiliated league or with a minimum of four games played prior to the tournament were able to enter their name into the lottery. If a selected team qualified for the championship division, an alternate would take their spot. 62 men's teams and 67 women's were selected.

Men's championship

Source:

Women's championship

Men's open

Women's open

Group stage

Men's championship

Notes:

1. ^ Actual GD differs because the max GD for any one game is ±5, which came into effect when Cal Poly beat UConn 7–1

Women's championship

Men's open

Notes:

1. ^ Actual GD differs because the max GD for any one game is ±5, which came into effect when Arizona beat St. Edwards 6–0

Women's open

Notes:

1. ^ Actual GD differs because the max GD for any one game is ±5, which came into effect when Illinois beat Miami(FL) 7–0

Notes:

1. ^ Actual GD differs because the max GD for any one game is ±5, which came into effect when Cal beat UCF 6–0

Tournament bracket

Men's championship

Men's consolation

Women's championship

Women's consolation

Men's open

Women's open

References

1. "2017 NIRSA Champion Series National Soccer Tournament Results" (PDF). NIRSA Play. November 22, 2017. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
2. Turner, Caleb (November 20, 2017). "BYU men's soccer wins collegiate club national championship". The Daily Universe. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
3. "Men's Soccer Alum CJ Sigler Promoted to Assistant Coach". Cal Poly. May 25, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2024.
4. Ault, Spencer (November 30, 2017). "UCSB Women's Club Soccer Shines in Back-to-Back Fashion, Win 7th National Title With 3–0 Win Over Texas". The Daily Nexus. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
5. Urcadez, Maury. "UA men's soccer team 'left no doubt' in 2017 championship run". The Daily Wildcat. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
6. Overy, Alexandra (December 5, 2017). "Men's Soccer Makes a Splash at Nationals". UCLA Club Sports. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
7. Cohen, Max (December 6, 2017). "Men's club soccer head coach Erick Rhodes provides thoughts on the 2017 season". The Daily Wildcat. Retrieved November 28, 2024.
8. Rios, Mario (December 4, 2017). "The 2017 NIRSA National Soccer Championships were spectacular". NIRSA. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
9. McCutchan, Valerie (October 2, 2017). "2017 NIRSA National Soccer Championships Rules of Play" (PDF). NIRSA Play. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
10. "Regional Championships". NIRSA Play. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
11. "Open Division Drawing". NIRSA Play. Archived from the original on December 5, 2017. Retrieved July 19, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
12. Harryhill, Paul (November 7, 2017). "Following whirlwind season, Penn men's club soccer earns spot at Nationals". The Daily Pennsylvanian. Retrieved December 23, 2024.

• NIRSA National Soccer Championships
• College soccer tournaments in Arizona
• 2017 in American soccer
• Soccer competitions in Phoenix, Arizona
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