The fields are set for the NCAA Division III Men's and Women's Soccer Championships, which will culminate on Dec. 5 and 6 at Swope Soccer Village in Kansas City, Missouri. The National Collegiate Athletic Assocation unveiled the brackets on Monday featuring 64 women's teams (bracket) and 61 men's teams (bracket) for the single-elimination tournaments.
MEN'S COMPETITION FORMAT AND SCHEDULE
Three teams receive first-round byes. Three first-round matches will be played to determine the teams that advance to the second round to play the three teams that received first-round byes. Thirteen four-team sites will conduct first- and second-round play on the first weekend of the championship. The 16 second-round winners will advance to four, four-team sectionals. Four teams will advance from the sectionals to the semifinals.
First and Second Rounds: Nov. 13-16, 2014
Sectionals (3rd & 4th Rounds): Nov. 22-23, 2014
Semifinals: Dec. 5, 2014 (10am CT & 12:30pm CT) at Swope Soccer Village
Final: Dec. 6, 2014 (12:30pm CT) at Swope Soccer Village
WOMEN'S COMPETITION FORMAT AND SCHEDULE
Sixteen four-team sites will conduct first- and second-round play on the first weekend of the championship. The sixteen second-round winners will advance to the four, four-team sectionals. Four teams will advance from the sectionals to the semifinals.
First and Second Rounds: Nov. 15-16, 2014
Sectionals (3rd & 4th Rounds): Nov. 22-23, 2014
Semifinals: Dec. 5, 2014 (4pm CT & 6:30pm CT) at Swope Soccer Village
Final: Dec. 6, 2014 (4:30pm CT) at Swope Soccer Village
Messiah College in Grantham, Pennsylvania is ranked No. 1 nationally in the men's and women's polls after both programs completed undefeated regular seasons. The Falcons men's soccer team (19-0-1) has won 10 national titles since 2000 and will be seeking their third straight championship, while the women's team (19-0-2) has been crowned national champions five times in the past decade.
Three schools from the state of Missouri are represented in the NCAA Division III Soccer Championships. Westminster College (men) and Webster University (women) automatically qualifed as champions of the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Washington University (women) received an at-large bid.
The 2014 NCAA Division III Men's and Women's Soccer Championships at Swope Soccer Village in Kansas City, Missouri will be co-hosted by the Kansas City Sports Commission and Fontbonne University. This year's final four is the first of four consecutive years in which NCAA men's and women's soccer championships will be competed at the state-of-the-art complex (Division III in 2014 and 2015; Division II in 2016 and 2017).
The 2015 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer College Cup will be held at Sporting Park from Dec. 11-13, 2015. For more information, visit NCAA.com/championships.
