The 2014 NIRSA national soccer championship was the 21st NIRSA National Soccer Championships, the annual national championships for United States-based, collegiate club soccer teams organized by NIRSA. It took place at Mike Rose Soccer Complex in Memphis, Tennessee from Thursday, November 20 to Saturday, November 22, 2014. This marks a return to play after the previous tournament was unable to name a champion due to rain.^[1]

Overview

In the men's championship finals, two teams would make the finals for the first time in their respective histories: Ohio State and San Diego State. Coming in, San Diego State defeated reigning champion from the 2012 tournament, Michigan State, 1–0 in the semi-finals while Ohio State beat 2004 champion, Texas A&M 4–2 in the semifinals. The game would be scoreless at the end of regulation, meaning a 15-minute, sudden-victory period would be played. Three minutes before the end of extra time, eventual MVP Alex Bujenovic of Ohio State would score a low cross and lead Ohio State to a 1–0 victory and their first national title.^[2][3]

In the women's championship finals, Ohio State and Miami (OH), two Region III opponents, would meet for the third time this season. Miami (OH) won the first two meetings 1–0, the first being on October 5 in the regular season and the second being in the W-MASC Region III regional tournament. Coming into the finals, Miami (OH) had won their first 4 games, including a 4-3 penalty shootout victory against the division's most successful team, UC-Santa Barbara. Conversely, Ohio State lost their opener to aforementioned UC-Santa Barbara, but won their next 4, including a 1–0 victory in extra time over Texas via a PK. In the finals, eventual MVP Ellen Haas of Ohio State would score in the 35th and 63rd minute to win 2-0 and prevent Miami (OH) from beating them 3 straight times. This was Ohio State's first national title, joining their male counterparts.^[4][5][6][7]

In the men's open division finals, the 2012 open finalists, UC-Berkeley, were looking to claim their second open title over Region II regional finalist UCF in their first open division finals. In the finals, UC-Berkeley scored first in the 50th minute but UCF tied it 8 minutes later, the first goal they conceded all tournament. 3 minutes prior to the end of regulation, UC-Berkeley would take the lead again, which would be enough for them to claim their second open title. UC-Berkeley only scored 5 goals in their six games with 2 of them coming in the finals, and their own Amir Guedoir was named MVP.^[8][9]

In the women's open division finals, 2008 open division champions UCLA would face 2005 championship division champions Michigan in their first open divisional finals. Michigan started the knockout round by beating the reigning open division champions, JMU, 2–0 in the quarterfinals while UCLA needed extra time in their quarterfinal matchup against Northeastern. Michigan took the lead in the 56th minute and doubled it in the 61st minute to win 2-0 and claim their first women's open division title. Michigan didn't give up a goal in any of their 6 games and their own Beth Boyer was named divisional MVP.^[1][10][11]

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.^[12][13]

Qualification and selections

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 their regional tournament results and RPI.^[14]

The 48 remaining teams participated in the open division and were selected via a lottery draw that aired on YouTube on September 30, 2014, at 3pm EST. This was the first time a lottery was utilized. If a selected team qualified for the championship division, an alternate took their spot. 54 men's teams and 43 women's were selected.^{[15][16][17][18]}

Group stage

Tournament bracket

Notes

• Some results obtained from NIRSA championship's Twitter, but uncited because generally unreliable
• Ohio State's men's championship title winning goal video

References