1997 NCAA Division I women's soccer tournament explained

NCAA women's soccer tournament
Year:1997
Other Titles:Women's College Cup (semifinals & final)
Country:United States
Dates:November–December 1997
Num Teams:32
Winners:North Carolina Tar Heels
(14th title, 16th College Cup)
Second:Connecticut Huskies
(3rd title match, 6th College Cup)
Semifinal1:Notre Dame Fighting Irish
(4th College Cup)
Semifinal2:Santa Clara Broncos
(5th College Cup)
Matches:31
Goals:115
Attendance:40572
Scoring Leader:Sara Whalen, UConn (5)
Award:Robin Confer, UNC (Offensive)
Siri Mullinix, UNC (Defensive)
Prev Season:1996
Next Season:1998
Updated:5/29/2015

The 1997 NCAA Division I women's soccer tournament (also known as the 1997 NCAA Women's College Cup) was the 16th annual single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of NCAA Division I women's collegiate soccer. The semifinals and championship game were played at the UNCG Soccer Stadium in Greensboro, North Carolina during December 1997.[1]

North Carolina defeated Connecticut in the final, 2–0, to win their fourteenth national title. Coached by Anson Dorrance, the Tar Heels finished the season 27–0–1.

The most outstanding offensive player was Robin Confer from North Carolina, and the most outstanding defensive player was Siri Mullinix, also from North Carolina. Confer and Mullinix, along with twelve other players, were named to the All-tournament team.

The tournament's leading scorer, with 5 goals, was Sara Whalen from Connecticut.

Qualification

All Division I women's soccer programs were eligible to qualify for the tournament. The tournament field remained at 32 teams although it would expand again, to 48, in 1998.

Play-in games

Teams

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North Carolina Regional
SeedSchoolConference Berth TypeRecord
FloridaSECAutomatic19-2-1
George MasonCAAAt-large13-5-4
HarvardIvy LeagueAutomatic10-2-2
MarylandACCAt-large12-8-3
MassachusettsAtlantic 10Automatic17-4
North CarolinaACCAutomatic22-0-1
VanderbiltSECAt-large14-7
Wake ForestACCAt-large11-7-2
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Santa Clara Regional
SeedSchoolConference Berth TypeRecord
BYUWACAt-large19-3
ClemsonACCAt-large13-6
DukeACCAt-large14-5-1
GeorgiaSECAt-large15-5-1
MilwaukeeMidwestern CollegiateAutomatic13-2-4
MinnesotaBig TenAt-large17-2-2
Santa ClaraWest CoastAt-large17-2-1
UNC GreensboroSouthernAutomatic18-5
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Connecticut Regional
SeedSchoolConference Berth TypeRecord
ColgatePatriotAutomatic13-3-3
ConnecticutBig EastAt-large19-3
FairfieldMAACAutomatic18-3
HartfordAmerica EastAutomatic18-1-1
James MadisonCAAAt-large13-6-2
Penn StateBig TenAt-large15-6-1
VirginiaACCAt-large13-4-2
William & MaryCAAAutomatic18-4
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Notre Dame Regional
SeedSchoolConference Berth TypeRecord
CincinnatiConference USAAutomatic16-4-3
MichiganBig TenAutomatic18-3-1
NebraskaBig 12At-large17-3
Notre DameBig EastAutomatic20-0-1
PortlandWest CoastAutomatic14-4
SMUWACAutomatic16-4-1
Texas A&MBig 12Automatic18-2
UCLAPac-10Automatic17-2

All-tournament team

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Division I Women's Soccer Championship Results . NCAA. NCAA.org. May 29, 2015.