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).
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 4âÂÂ0 then against Boston University 2âÂÂ1 to top their group. Meanwhile, Ohio State would also win their opener, a 2âÂÂ1 win against Tulsa but would end up finishing second in their group after they tied reigning quarterfinalist Georgia Tech 0âÂÂ0 due to Georgia Tech's superior 4âÂÂ0 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) 1âÂÂ0 in the round of 16 then would defeat fellow region 6 opponent and regional champion Cal Poly 3âÂÂ1 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 3âÂÂ0, to advance to their second straight final four. In the semifinals, BYU would defeat Georgia Tech 5âÂÂ0 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 1âÂÂ0.
In the finals, the game would be deadlocked 0âÂÂ0 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 3âÂÂ3. 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.
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 5âÂÂ0 in their opener followed by a 1âÂÂ0 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 3âÂÂ0 in the round of 16 then would remain tied with Texas A&M 1âÂÂ1 after regulation, requiring penalties. UCLA would then prevail 3âÂÂ2 in penalty kicks to advance to their second straight final four. Meanwhile, Cal Poly would defeat 8-time champions UC-Santa Barbara 2âÂÂ0 in the round of 16 then would defeat 2004 co-champions Colorado 1âÂÂ0 to advance to their fourth straight final four. In the semifinals, UCLA would defeat Georgia 2âÂÂ0 to make their second straight finals while Cal Poly would finish their game against 2005 champions Michigan 0âÂÂ0 after regulation and extra time, sending Cal Poly to their second penalty shootout in 3 games. Cal Poly would win 6âÂÂ5 to set up a rematch of last year's semifinal match that UCLA won 2âÂÂ0.
In the finals, the game would be deadlocked 0âÂÂ0 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 1âÂÂ0 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.
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 2âÂÂ0, 2007 open runners-up Kansas 3âÂÂ0, and 2000 champions Penn State 2âÂÂ0, respectively, while Minnesota would defeat High Point 3âÂÂ0, Sacred Heart 4âÂÂ0, and 2007 champions UC-Santa Barbara 2âÂÂ1.
In the knockout round, UCLA would defeat UC-Santa Barbara 1âÂÂ0 in the quarterfinals then would defeat 2011 champions 2âÂÂ1 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 3âÂÂ2 then 2021 open champions Boston College 3âÂÂ0 to advance to their first open finals. In the finals, the game would remain deadlocked 0âÂÂ0 after regulation and extra times, meaning penalties would be needed to determine an open champion for the first time since 2012. Minnesota would win 8âÂÂ7 in penalties to claim their first open title. Minnesota's Henry Elias would be named tournament MVP.
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 1âÂÂ0, UC-Irvine 2âÂÂ1, then Colorado School of the Mines 2âÂÂ0 while Colorado "Black" won their opener 2âÂÂ1 over Arkansas, then won 2âÂÂ0 over Central Michigan, and finally Arizona 4âÂÂ1.
In the knockout round, Missouri would defeat Oregon "Green" 3âÂÂ0 in the quarterfinals then would overcome a 2âÂÂ1 halftime deficit with a 4-goal second half to defeat 2016 open champions Virginia Tech 5âÂÂ4 in the semifinals to advance to the finals. Meanwhile, Colorado "Black" would defeat 2018 runners-up UC-Davis 2âÂÂ0 then would defeat 2010 open champions Illinois 1âÂÂ0 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 1âÂÂ1 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 4âÂÂ1 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.
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:
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.
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 1âÂÂ8. 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.
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.
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.
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