NCAA Division II men's soccer tournament

The NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Championship is the annual tournament held by the NCAA to determine the top men's Division II College soccer program in the United States. It has been played annually since 1972; prior to that, all teams competed in a single class.[1]

Men's Division II
Men's Soccer Championship
Organizing bodyNCAA
Founded1972; 52 years ago (1972)
RegionUnited States
Number of teams40
Current champion(s)Franklin Pierce
(3rd title)
Most successful club(s)Southern Connecticut
(6 titles)
Websitencaa.com/soccer

The most successful program has been Southern Connecticut State, with six national titles.

Franklin Pierce are the two-time defending champions, winning their third national title in 2023. In a rematch of the 2022 final, the Ravens defeated CSU Pueblo in the final, 4–0, which was rematch of the 2022 final.

Format

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The Division II tournament is structured around four unbalanced Super Regionals from the eight NCAA regions (Atlantic, Central, East, Midwest, South, South Central, Southeast, and West). At least two and as many as six teams from each region are selected with no automatic qualifiers given. The selection criteria used is similar to that used in Division I, although one difference is that the RPI is replaced with the Quality of Winning Percentage Index, a more subjective measure. In 2016, the tournament field consisted of a 38-team, single-elimination tournament.

The first two rounds are played on campus sites with the highest seed usually hosting the regional semis and finals. The winners of each region meet in the third round and/or quarterfinals, with the host being determined by specific criteria or, failing that, geographical rotation. The final two rounds are played at a predetermined site. The 2016 semifinals and final, for example, were held at Swope Soccer Village in Kansas City, Missouri and hosted by the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association and the Kansas City Sports Commission.[2]

Results

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Sources: [3][4]

Year by year

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Sources:[3][4]

Keys
Ed. Year Host city Championship Third place match / Semifinalists
Champion Score Runner-Up Third Place Score Fourth Place
1
1972 Edwardsville, IL SIU Edwardsville (1)
1–0
Oneonta State Chico State and Baltimore [n 1]
2
1973 Springfield, MA UMSL (1)
3–0
Cal State FU Adelphi
1–0
Baltimore
3
1974 St. Louis, MO Adelphi (1)
3–2
Seattle Pacific UDC
5–3
Eastern Illinois
4
1975 Seattle, WA Baltimore (1)
3–1
Seattle Pacific Adelphi
9–1
UW–Green Bay
5
1976 Seattle, WA Loyola Maryland (1)
2–0
New Haven Chico State
2–2 (4–2 p)
UMSL
6
1977 University Park, FL Alabama A&M (1)
2–1
Seattle Pacific New Haven
2–2 (5–3 p)
UW–Green Bay
7
1978 University Park, FL Seattle Pacific (1)
1–0 (a.e.t.)
Alabama A&M Eastern Illinois
2–1
Southern Connecticut
8
1979 University Park, FL Alabama A&M (2)
2–0
Eastern Illinois Seattle Pacific
1–0 (a.e.t.)
Southern Connecticut
9
1980 University Park, FL Lock Haven (1)
1–0 (a.e.t.)
FIU Cal State Chico
2–1 (a.e.t.)
Southern Connecticut
10
1981 New Haven, CT Tampa (1)
1–0 (a.e.t.)
Cal State LA Southern Connecticut
3–1
UMSL
11
1982 University Park, FL FIU (1)
2–1
Southern Connecticut UMSL and Oakland [n 2]
12
1983 Tampa, FL Seattle Pacific (2)
1–0
Tampa Oakland and Southern Connecticut
13
1984 Seattle, WA FIU (2)
1–0 (a.e.t.)
Seattle Pacific New Haven and UMSL
14
1985 University Park, FL Seattle Pacific (3)
3–2
FIU NYIT and Davis & Elkins
15
1986 Seattle, WA Seattle Pacific (4)
4–1
Oakland Bridgeport and Davis & Elkins
16
1987 Tampa, FL Southern Connecticut (1)
2–0
Cal State NO UMSL and Tampa
17
1988 Northridge, CA Florida Tech (1)
3–2
Cal State NO Southern Connecticut and Oakland
18
1989 Greensboro, NC SNHU (1)
3–1
UNC Greensboro Cal State Hayward and Gannon
19
1990 Melbourne, FL Southern Connecticut (2)
0–0 (4–3 p)
Seattle Pacific Gannon and Florida Tech
20
1991 Melbourne, FL Florida Tech (2)
5–1
Sonoma State Cal Poly Pomona[n 3] and Franklin Pierce
21
1992 Tampa, FL Southern Connecticut (3)
1–0
Tampa Oakland and Seattle Pacific
22
1993 Melbourne, FL Seattle Pacific (5)
1–0
Southern Connecticut Florida Tech and Gannon
23
1994 Tampa, FL Tampa (2)
3–0 (a.e.t.)
Oakland Seattle Pacific and Southern Connecticut
24
1995 Spartanburg, SC Southern Connecticut (4)
2–0
USC Spartanburg Mercyhurst and Cal State Bakersfield
25
1996 Phoenix, AZ Grand Canyon (1)
3–1
Oakland Lynn and Southern Connecticut
26
1997 Boca Raton, FL Cal State Bakersfield (1)
1–0
Lynn Truman State and Southern Connecticut
27
1998 Spartanburg, SC Southern Connecticut (5)
1–0
USC Spartanburg Mercyhurst and Seattle Pacific
28
1999 Miami Shores, FL Southern Connecticut (6)
2–1 (a.e.t.)
Fort Lewis Charleston (WV) and Barry
29
2000 Miami Shores, FL Cal State DH (1)
2–1 (a.e.t.)
Barry East Stroudsburg and Lewis
30
2001 Tampa, FL Tampa (3)
2–1
Cal State DH Dowling and SIU Edwardsville
31
2002 Virginia Beach, VA Sonoma State (1)
4–3
SNHU Central Arkansas and Mercyhurst
32
2003 Virginia Beach, VA Lynn (1)
2–1
Chico State Findlay and Dowling
33
2004 Wichita Falls, TX Seattle (1)
2–1
SIU Edwardsville UNC Pembroke and Dowling
34
2005 Wichita Falls, TX Fort Lewis (1)
3–1
Franklin Pierce Lynn and SIU Edwardsville
35
2006 Pensacola, FL Dowling (1)
1–0
Fort Lewis Lincoln Memorial and West Florida
36
2007 Orange Beach, AL Franklin Pierce (1)
1–0
Lincoln Memorial Montevallo and Midwestern State
37
2008 Tampa, FL Cal State DH (2)
3–0
Dowling Tampa and Northern Kentucky
38
2009 Tampa, FL Fort Lewis (2)
1–0
Lees-McRae Le Moyne and Lewis
39
2010 Louisville, KY Northern Kentucky (1)
3–2
Rollins Dowling and Midwestern State
40
2011 Pensacola, FL Fort Lewis (3)
3–2
Lynn Franklin Pierce and Millersville
41
2012 Evans, GA Lynn (2)
3–2
Saginaw Valley State Simon Fraser and Mercyhurst
42
2013 Evans, GA SNHU (2)
2–1
Carson–Newman Rockhurst and Simon Fraser
43
2014 Louisville, KY Lynn (3)
3–2
Charleston (WV) Colorado Mesa and Quincy
44
2015 Pensacola, FL Pfeiffer (1)
4–0
Cal Poly PO Charleston (WV) and Rockhurst
45
2016 Kansas, MO]] Wingate (1)
2–0
Charleston (WV) Rockhurst and UC San Diego
46
2017 Kansas, MO Charleston (WV) (1)
2–2 (a.e.t.)
Lynn Cal Poly Pomona and Rockhurst
47
2018 Pittsburgh, PA Barry (1)
2–1
West Chester Cal Poly Pomona and Fort Hays State
48
2019 Pittsburgh, PA Charleston (WV) (2)
2–0
Cal State LA Indianapolis and Lynn
2020
(tournament canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic)
49
2021 Colorado Sp, CO Cal State LA (1)
1–0
Charleston (WV) Indianapolis and Nova Southeastern
50
2022 Seattle, WA Franklin Pierce (2)
2–0
CSU Pueblo Barry and Lake Erie
51
2023 East Ridge, TN Franklin Pierce (3) 4–0 CSU Pueblo Florida Tech and Lewis
52
2024 East Ridge, TN
53
2025 Matthews, NC
54
2026 Kansas City, MO
55
2027 Huntsville, AL
Notes
  1. ^ No third match held.
  2. ^ No third place match has been played since this edition.
  3. ^ Later vacated by NCAA.

Champions

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CSU LA
 
UMSL
 
Sonoma State
 
Adelphi
 
Lock Haven
 
Wingate
 
Barry
 
Charleston
 
SNHU
 
FIT
 
FPU
 
CSUDH
 
Lynn
 
Tampa
 
Fort Lewis
 
Seattle Pacific
 
SCSU
National Championships by school:   6,   5,   3,   2,   1
Team Titles Years
Southern Connecticut
6
1987, 1990, 1992, 1995, 1998, 1999
Seattle Pacific
5
1978, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1993
Franklin Pierce
3
2007, 2022, 2023
Lynn 2003, 2012, 2014
Fort Lewis 2005, 2009, 2013
Tampa 1981, 1994, 2001
Cal State (DH)
2
2000, 2008
Charleston (WV) 2017, 2019
Florida Tech 1988, 1991
SNHU 1989, 2013
Adelphi
1
1974
Barry 2018
Cal State (LA) 2021
Lock Haven 1980
UMSL 1973
Sonoma State 2002
Wingate 2016

Finals hosting history

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From 1982 through 2002, the highest seeded finalist or semifinalist school was designated as the host for the finals. The University of Tampa has hosted the finals seven times, more than any other school. Florida International is the only school to have hosted four championships in a row. The championship final has been played in the state of Florida on 22 occasions, 18 more time than any other state. On seven occasions the host team has won the championship.

Source:[4][3]

Key
  • Schools in italics are no longer Division II members.
  • Venues: number of matches hosted, indicated in brackets
  • Years in bold indicate when the host school won championship
School/
Conference
Hosted Years Venues
Tampa
7
1983, 1987, 1992, 1994, 2001, 2008, 2009 Plant Field (5), Pepin Stadium (2)
Florida International
6
1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1985 Sunblazers Stadium
West Florida
4
2006, 2007, 2011, 2015 Ashton Brosnaham (3), Orange Beach (1)
Seattle Pacific
4
1975, 1976, 1984, 1986 Memorial Stadium
Florida Tech
3
1990, 1991, 1993 FIT Varsity Field (2), Panther Stadium (1)
Slippery Rock
2
2018, 2019 Highmark Stadium
Mid-America IAA
2
2016, 2017 Swope Village
Peach Belt Conference
2
2012, 2013 Blanchard Woods Park (Evans, GA)
Bellarmine
2
2010, 2014 Owsley Frazier
Midwestern State
2
2004, 2005 MSU Soccer Field
2
2002, 2003 Virginia Beach Sportsplex
Barry
2
1999, 2000 Buccaneer Field
USC Spartanburg
2
1995, 1998 Rifle Field
Lynn
1
1997 McCusker Sports Complex
Grand Canyon
1
1996 GCU Stadium
UNC Greensboro
1
1989 Campus Field
Cal State Northridge
1
1988 North Campus Stadium
Southern Connecticut
1
1981 Reese Stadium
UM–St. Louis
1
1974 Don Dallas Soccer Field
Springfield (MA)
1
1973 Benedum Field
SIU Edwardsville
1
1972 Cougar Field

Former programs

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Team Titles Years
Alabama A&M
2
1977, 1979
FIU 1982, 1984
Baltimore
1
1975
Cal State Bakersfield 1997
Dowling 2006
Grand Canyon 1996
Loyola Maryland 1976
Northern Kentucky 2010
Pfeiffer 2015
Seattle 2004
SIU Edwardsville 1972

Schools ranked by number of appearances

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Schools indicated in pink no longer compete in Division II.

Rank School App.
1 Seattle Pacific 35
2 Southern Connecticut 31
3 Tampa 24
4 SNHU (N.H. College) 22
5 East Stroudsburg 19
6 Franklin Pierce 19
7 UMSL 17
8 Lynn 15
Mercyhurst
Rollins
9 Oakland 14
10 Cal State Dominguez Hills 13
Dowling

Former Division II Champions now in Division I

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Source: [5]

Conference affiliations are current for the ongoing 2024 NCAA men's soccer season.

School Championship Year moved Current Conference
SIU Edwardsville 1972 1973, 2008[a] Ohio Valley Conference
Loyola (Maryland) 1976 1979 Patriot League
Alabama A&M 1977, 1979 1999 Southwestern Athletic Conference
FIU (Florida International) 1982, 1984 1987 American Athletic Conference
Grand Canyon 1996 2013 Western Athletic Conference[b]
CSU Bakersfield 1997 2006 Big West Conference
Seattle 2004 2008 Western Athletic Conference
(West Coast Conference in 2025)
Northern Kentucky 2010 2012 Horizon League
  1. ^ SIUE returned to Division II from 1996 through 2007.
  2. ^ Grand Canyon's men's soccer affiliation beyond the 2024 season is uncertain. It initially announced a 2025 move to the West Coast Conference, but reneged on the move in favor of joining the Mountain West Conference, which sponsors soccer only for women.
  • In addition to the above schools, Alabama A&M moved to Division I after winning Division II titles in 1977 and 1979. However, it discontinued its men's soccer program after the 2010 season.[6]
  • Adelphi also moved to Division I in 1976, after winning the Division II title in 1974, but returned to Division II in 2013.[7]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "DIVISION II MEN'S SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIPS RECORDS BOOK" (PDF). NCAA.org. NCAA. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  2. ^ "Division II Men's Soccer Championship field announced". NCAA & Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. November 8, 2016. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
  3. ^ a b c "DII Men's College Soccer". NCAA.com.
  4. ^ a b c "Division II Men's Soccer Championship History" (PDF). NCAA. April 21, 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
  5. ^ "NCAA Sports Sponsorship". Archived from the original on March 8, 2017. Retrieved January 28, 2013.
  6. ^ "Alabama A&M to drop men's program". Soccer America. August 17, 2010. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
  7. ^ "Adelphi Men's Soccer To Reclassify To Division II Beginning Fall 2013". Adelphi Panthers. August 16, 2012. Retrieved March 2, 2013.
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