The 2025 NIRSA national soccer championship was the 31st NIRSA National Soccer Championships, the annual national championships for United States-based, collegiate club soccer teams organized by NIRSA. It took place at SCHEELS Overland Park Soccer Complex in Overland Park, Kansas, from Thursday, November 20, to Saturday, November 22, 2025.
In the finals, 5-time reigning champs, BYU, would make their 6th straight finals and face finals debutants, UCLA. Prior to this, in the group stage, UCLA would top their group after tying Georgetown 1âÂÂ1 in the opener then defeating two-time runner-up, Illinois, 3âÂÂ1 in the group stage finale. Meanwhile, after defeating New Hampshire 2âÂÂ0 in their opener, BYU would tie reigning quarterfinalist and 2010 champion, Colorado, 1âÂÂ1 in their second match. This tie would break BYU's 24-game win streak in the national tournament, dating back to the 2021 group stage opener against Notre Dame and notably, with Colorado defeating New Hampshire 3âÂÂ0 in the group stage finale, BYU would finish second in their group which marked the first time in their 15 appearances where they didn't top the group.
In the knockout round, UCLA would defeat Auburn 3âÂÂ1 then would require penalties against Wisconsin following a 1âÂÂ1 draw in regulation but would edge the Badgers 4âÂÂ1 to advance to their second semifinals in 3 years. Meanwhile, BYU would beat Virginia Tech 1âÂÂ0 in the round of 16 in a rematch of the 2023 finals and would then beat Arkansas 2âÂÂ0. In the semifinals, BYU would defeat Boston College 2âÂÂ1 while UCLA would defeat Colorado 2âÂÂ0, preventing a group stage rematch for BYU.
In the finals, the game would remained deadlocked until the 62nd minute, where Ethan Christensen of BYU scored on an assist from Aaron Jolley in what would end up being the game winner in a 1âÂÂ0 victory. BYU's Brayden Gonder would be named the tournament's MVP. This win would be BYU's 6th straight national title, overtaking UC-Santa Barbara's women's team for sole possession of the longest championship streak which was previously 5.
In the finals, 2006 champion San Diego State would face two-time champions, Michigan State. Prior to this, in the group stage, both teams would top their group with San Diego State tying 2023 semifinalist Vanderbilt 0âÂÂ0 then defeating 2018 semifinalist Illinois 1âÂÂ0 in the group stage finale while Michigan State would defeat Grand Canyon 5âÂÂ0 in the opener then would defeat Auburn 3âÂÂ1 in the group stage finale.
In the knockout round, San Diego State would defeat Auburn 3âÂÂ1 then would require penalties against Colorado in the quarterfinals that they'd ultimately win 5âÂÂ3. Meanwhile, Michigan State would defeat Illinois 3âÂÂ0 and then would defeat two-time runners-up, Texas, 1âÂÂ0 to advance to their first semifinals since 2016. In the semifinals, Michigan State would beat region II champions, Tennessee 2âÂÂ1 while San Diego State would defeat Cornell 2âÂÂ0.
In the finals, Michigan State and San Diego State would be deadlocked after regulation, meaning overtime would be required for the first time since 2022. Overtime would also be deadlocked, meaning penalties would be required for the first time since 2010. In the shootout, Michigan State would kick first and both goalkeepers would save the opening kick. Following this, both teams would each hit their next 3 kicks, leaving the score tied at 3âÂÂ3 going into the fifth and final round. Michigan State would hit their and goalkeeper Ally Maloney of Michigan State would save San Diego State's final shot, winning the match for Michigan State 4âÂÂ3. Ally Maloney would earn MVP honors for her two saves in the shootout accompanied with her 4 shutouts and 2 goals against in 6 games.
In the finals, 2012 open champions, San Diego State would face 2017 championship runners-up Cal Poly. Prior to this, in the group stage, both teams would top their group by winning all 3 games. San Diego State would defeat 2007 open champs Missouri 3âÂÂ1, LSU 3âÂÂ1, and Cornell 2âÂÂ1 while Cal Poly would defeat Cincinnati 3âÂÂ1, Charleston via forfeit, and Sacred Heart 5âÂÂ0.
In the knockout round, San Diego State would defeat 2023 open champions Miami (OH) 3âÂÂ2 in the quarterfinals and then would require penalties against 2023 open runners-up Purdue following a 1âÂÂ1 draw. San Diego State would win 3âÂÂ2 and advance to their first open final since 2012. Meanwhile, Cal Poly would defeat Quinnipiac 2âÂÂ0 in the quarterfinals then would defeat 2007 championship division winners UC-Santa Barbara 3âÂÂ0 in the semifinals. In the finals, Cal Poly would score the match's lone goal and win the game 1âÂÂ0. This would be Cal Poly's A-team's first open title (their "B-team" won in 2010) and Cal Poly's Zachary Preucil would be named the tournament's MVP.
In the finals, three-time open champions, reigning championship runner-up and 2023 championship winner, UCLA, would face 1996 championship runner-up, Purdue. Prior to this, in the group stage, both teams would top their group by winning all three group stage matches. UCLA would defeat Ohio 5âÂÂ0, UCF 3âÂÂ1, and Arkansas 5âÂÂ0 while Purdue would defeat 2018 open division runners-up, USC, 4âÂÂ0, Iowa State 5âÂÂ0, and Springfield 2âÂÂ0.
In the knockout round, UCLA would defeat 1996 championship winners, Miami (OH) 2âÂÂ0 in the quarterfinals then would require penalties against 2018 championship runners-up, UC Davis following a 1âÂÂ1 draw. UCLA would win the shootout 3âÂÂ2 to advance to the open finals. Meanwhile, Purdue would require penalties against Michigan State "B" in the quarterfinals following a deadlocked regulation and would win the shootout 5âÂÂ4 to advance to the semifinals where they defeated reigning open champion, Colorado "B", 2âÂÂ0 to make their first open finals. In the finals, UCLA would defeat Purdue 2âÂÂ0 to claim their 4th open division title. This gives them sole possession of having the title of most open titles won. UCLA's May Lu would be named the tournament's 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, kicks from the mark would determine the winner for every game except the finals. The finals required overtime which consisted of two, 10-minute periods played in their entirety. If still tied after overtime, kicks from the mark would again 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 will air on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, 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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