Misplaced Pages

The 2022 NIRSA national soccer championship was the 28th 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 17 to Saturday, November 19, 2022. This was the second time the event was held here, the first being in 2019.

Overview

Men's championship

In the finals, the reigning back-back-back champions, BYU, were making their 10th finals appearance against finals debutants Minnesota. Prior to this, in the group stage, BYU would defeat Rutgers 6–0 then 2004 national champions, Texas A&M, 4–1 while Minnesota would defeat 2012 national champions, Michigan State, 3–0 then region II tournament runners-up, William & Mary, 4–0 to top their group.

In the knockout round, BYU would defeat 2008 national runners-up, Colorado State, 6–0 in the round of 16 then, in a rematch of the 2019 national championship game, would face Ohio State and beat them 3–0. Meanwhile, Minnesota would defeat region I tournament champion, UConn, 6–0 in the round of 16 then would beat 2015 national champion, North Carolina, 2–1 to advance to the semifinals. In the semifinals, in a rematch of last year's championship game, BYU would face Texas and would defeat them 4–1 to advance to their third straight finals while Minnesota would defeat UC-Davis 2–0 to advance to their first finals.

In the finals, with neither team trailing the entirety of the tournament, Minnesota would take an early lead with a goal from Samuel Yarmulnik in the first minute. They would hold this lead until Eric Morris of BYU leveled the game at 1–1 in the 67th minute. 2 minutes prior to the end of regulation, eventual MVP Thys Call of BYU would score what would be a game winner in a 2–1 victory for BYU, their 9th men's championship title and third consecutive. This was also their fourth title in the five iterations since they returned to NIRSA from the PDL.

Women's championship

In the finals, UConn would face 2011 runners-up Cal Poly. Prior to this, in the group stage, UConn would tie their opener 1–1 against region II tournament champion, Virginia, but a 1–0 win over Wisconsin would be enough to top their group. Meanwhile, Cal Poly would defeat Florida State 2–0 then would beat 2017 runners-up, Texas, 1–0 to also top their group.

In the knockout round, UConn would defeat UC-Davis 2–1 in the round of 16 then, after remaining deadlocked 1–1 after regulation and overtime would defeat 2005 national champion Michigan 5–4 in penalties to make their first semifinals. Meanwhile, Cal Poly would defeat Vanderbilt 1–0 in the round of 16 then would beat 2004 co-champion Colorado 2–1 in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, UConn would defeat Oregon 2–0 to advance to their first finals while Cal Poly would defeat 2019 champion, Ohio State, 2–1 to advance to their second finals.

In the finals, the game would remain deadlocked 0–0 at the end of regulation, meaning a 15-minute, golden-goal period would occur. Two minutes before the end of the overtime period, Bethany Love of Cal Poly would head a cross off of a corner kick past the eventual women's championship's most outstanding goalkeeper, Estelle Jarrett of UConn, to give Cal Poly their first women's national title. Fiona Plunkett of Cal Poly would be named the MVP of the women's championship division.

Men's open

In the finals, UCLA, who were making their 3rd finals appearance in the last 4 iterations of the competition, would face Miami of Ohio, who were making their first ever open finals appearance. UCLA, led by captain and eventual MVP Ciaran Hernon, would go on to dominate 3–0 and claim their second men's open title.

Women's open

In the finals, Kansas were looking to claim their first national title against one of the division's most successful teams, UCLA who, despite their success in previous tournaments, finished second in their group. The game would be tied 0–0 at halftime, but a second half goal would be enough for UCLA to join their male counterparts and claim a 2022 open title. This was their third open title in their history and meant they had tied the record for most championships in the women’s open division, going level with JMU who have also won 3 titles. UCLA would also see their own Alison Shea be named the MVP of the women's open division.

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 selections

Each of the six regions receives 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 6, 2022 at 8am 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. 54 men's teams and 56 women's were selected.

Men's championship

Source:

Women's championship

Sources:

Men's lottery selection

Women's lottery selection

Group stage

Results from pool play from all 4 divisions:

Men's championship

Notes:

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

Notes:

1. ^ Tied on head-to-head result (MSU 2–2 W&M). Goal difference used to break tie

Women's championship

Notes:

1. ^ Tied on head-to-head result (MSU 0–0 CU). Tied on goal difference (+1). Total goals for used to break tie

Notes:

1. ^ Tied on head-to-head result (FSU 1–1 Texas). Goal difference used to break tie

Notes:

1. ^ Tied on head-to-head result (Oregon 2–2 Vandy). Goal difference used to break tie

Men's open

Notes:

1. ^ Tied on head-to-head result (VT 2–2 M-OH). Goal difference used to break tie

Notes:

1. ^ Actual GD differs because the max GD for any one game is ±5, which came into effect when Cincinnati beat Florida Gulf Coast 7–1
2. ^ Tied on head-to-head result (UC-B 1–1 Cornell). Goal difference used to break tie
3. ^ Actual GD differs because the max GD for any one game is ±5, which came into effect when UC-Berkeley beat Florida Gulf Coast 9–0

Notes:

1. ^ Oregon won the head-to-head result over LSU 4–1

Notes:

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

Notes:

1. ^ Actual GD differs because the max GD for any one game is ±5, which came into effect when Missouri beat Iowa State 6–0
2. ^ Tied on cumulative head-to-head results (Iowa State 2–1 UMass Amherst, VCU 4–1 Iowa State, UMass Amherst 2–0 VCU). Goal difference used to break ties

Women's open

Notes:

1. ^ Actual GD differs because the max GD for any one game is ±5, which came into effect when JMU beat K State 7–0
2. ^ Tied the head-to-head result (JMU 2–2 UCLA). Goal difference used to break tie
3. ^ Tied the head-to-head result (Iowa State 1–1 Kansas State). Goal difference used to break tie

Notes:

1. ^ Actual GD differs because the max GD for any one game is ±5, which came into effect when Penn beat Georgia S. 8–0

Notes:

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

Tournament bracket

Men's championship

Men's consolation

Women's championship

Women's consolation

Men's open

Women's open

All-tournament teams

Note: Only semifinalist players were eligible for selections

Men's championship

Women's championship

Men's open

Women's open

Broadcasting

• Championship finals were live streamed to YouTube

References

1. "2022 National Soccer Championships Program Booklet" (PDF). NIRSA Championship Series. November 14, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
2. Parks, Molly (December 6, 2022). "Men's club soccer wins consolation bracket at national tournament in Round Rock, Texas". Flat Hat News. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
3. Payne, Jackson (November 20, 2022). "BYU men's soccer captures third straight national championship". The Daily Universe. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
4. Larsson, Avery (December 6, 2022). "2022 National Tournament Recap: Gophers Make History – Reach National Title Match". UMN Gopher Soccer. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
5. Stoyanov, Tony (December 23, 2022). "Women's Club Soccer Team finished the 2022 as NIRSA National Women's Open Champions". UCLA Club Sports. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
6. Rios, Mario (December 9, 2022). "Read all about the 28th Annual NIRSA National Soccer Championships". NIRSA. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
7. "2022 NIRSA National Soccer Championships Rules of Play" (PDF). NIRSA Soccer. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
8. "2022 NIRSA National Soccer Championships Rules of Play" (PDF). NIRSA Soccer. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
9. "Regional Championships". NIRSA Play. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
10. Jackson, Nicole (September 13, 2022). "Enter the NIRSA Championship Series national soccer lottery draw". NIRSA. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
11. McManus, Maddy (November 7, 2022). "Men's club soccer qualifies for nationals". The Review. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
12. "2022 Region I Tournament Results" (PDF). NIRSA. June 22, 2023.
13. "2022 Region II Tournament Results" (PDF). NIRSA. June 22, 2023.
14. "2022 Men's Region III Tournament Results" (PDF). NIRSA. June 22, 2023.
15. "2022 Women's Region III Tournament Results" (PDF). NIRSA. June 22, 2023.
16. "2022 Region IV Tournament Results" (PDF). NIRSA. June 22, 2023.
17. "2022 Region V Tournament Results" (PDF). NIRSA. June 22, 2023.
18. "2022 Region VI North Tournament Results" (PDF). NIRSA. June 22, 2023.
19. "2022 Region VI South Tournament Results" (PDF). NIRSA. June 22, 2023.
20. "2022 Region 1 Club Soccer Tournament Schedule.xlsx". Google Docs. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
21. "2022 Midwest Alliance Cup". Midwest Alliance Soccer Conference. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
22. "NIRSA Championship Series: Region IV Soccer – 2022 Super Regional". sites.google.com. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
23. "WMASC Regional Tournament". Archived from the original on July 2, 2023. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
24. "Weekly Rankings | NIRSA Play". NIRSA Play. May 25, 2023. Archived from the original on May 25, 2023. Retrieved July 16, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
25. ^ "2022 National Soccer Championships Results" (PDF). NIRSA Championship Series. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 27, 2023. Retrieved May 27, 2023.

• NIRSA National Soccer Championships
• College soccer tournaments in Texas
• 2022 in American soccer
• Sports competitions in Round Rock, Texas
• November 2022 sports events in the United States
• 2022 in sports in Texas