KANSAS CITY, Mo. – [
Opening Round Schedule] The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has officially announced the teams and pairings for the 2021 NAIA Women’s Soccer National Championship Opening Round, presented by Select Sport America. The 40-team NAIA Opening Round event at 10 campus locations will occur from November 18-20.
The Cascade Collegiate Conference saw two teams qualify for the tournament after both teams secured automatic qualifiers (AQ) from the conference. No. 19-ranked Oregon Tech grabbed the first AQ by winning both the regular-season and tournament championships, while the College of Idaho – which is receiving votes in the latest national poll – picked up the second as the tournament runners-up.
The 2021 NAIA Opening Round winners will meet up in Orange Beach, Ala., at the NAIA National Championship final site event. The 38th annual championship takes place at the Orange Beach Sportsplex November 30 – December 6, 2021.
This year’s opening round field includes 28 automatic qualifiers and 12 at-large selections. Automatic berths were given to teams that either won their respective conference tournament title, regular-season championship, or finished runner-up at the conference tournament or regular season as determined by each conference qualification plan. The at-large bids were determined by the NAIA Women’s Soccer National Selection Committee. This committee consists of one representative from each geographical area, a representative from the National Administrative Council, the president of the NAIA-Women’s Soccer Coaches Association, and three at-large members. The committee evaluated teams throughout the year on various criteria.
The NAIA Network – the association’s official video streaming home – will broadcast all 10 matches live at the NAIA Women’s Soccer National Championship final site in Orange Beach, Ala. The video platform, powered by Stretch Internet, allows users access to live video, statistics, and social interaction on a number of devices, including mobile. Single day passes can be purchased for $9.95, while an all-championship tournament package is available at $34.95. For more information and to pre-register, click
HERE.
Qualifier Highlights
• Louisiana Christian and Ohio Valley (W.Va.) are all getting their first taste of NAIA Women’s Soccer Championship play.
• The Mid-South leads all conferences with five teams in the field. The Crossroads League and The Sun Conference follow closely behind with four.
• Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) leads the field in number of appearances in the championship field with its 23
rd this season. Westmont follows with its 22
nd appearance.
• Westmont’s five national titles are the most among the opening round qualifiers.
• Keiser (Fla.) will attempt to become the first team since 2011 to win three national championships in a row. Former member institution Lee (Tenn.) won four-in-a-row from 2008 through 2011.
• 26 teams from the 2020 national championship field will return in 2021.
• Central Methodist (Mo.) and Aquinas (Mich.) lead all teams with 19 wins.
• Jamestown (N.D.) is snapping the longest absence from championship play with its last appearance coming in 2005.
• For a full look at all of the Opening Round tournaments and matchups, click
HERE
Full list of qualifiers