1998 NIRSA National Soccer Championship explained

1998 NIRSA National Soccer Championship
League:NIRSA
Sport:Soccer
Prevseason Year:1997
Hosts Alt:Site
Hosts:Georgia Southern
Statesboro, Georgia
Duration:November 19–21, 1998
No Of Teams:16 (men's championship)
16 (women's championship)
16 (men's open)
6 (women's open)
Season:Men's Championship Division
Season Champ Name:Score
Season Champs:4–0
League Champ Name:Champion
League Champs:BYU
(3rd title, 3rd title game)
Second Place:Texas Tech
(1st title game)
Mvp:Brandon LeRoy (BYU)
Season2:Women's Championship Division
Season Champ2 Name:Score
Season Champs2:0–0 (a.e.t.)
(4–3 p)
League Champ2 Name:Champion
League Champs2:Colorado
(2nd title, 2nd title game)
Second Place2:Penn State
(2nd title game)
Mvp2:Nicole Skogg (Colorado)
Season3:Men's Open Division
Season Champ3 Name:Score
Season Champs3:1–0
League Champ3 Name:Champion
League Champs3:LSU
(1st title, 1st title game)
Second Place3:Virginia
(1st title game)
Mvp3:Andre Dugas (LSU)
Season4:Women's Open Division
Season Champ4 Name:Score
League Champ4 Name:Champion
League Champs4:Colorado State "Green"
(1st title, 2nd title game)
Second Place4:Florida State
(1st title game)
Top Seed4:Courtney Kramer (Colorado State "Green")
Seasonslist:NIRSA National Soccer Championships
Seasonslistnames:NIRSA national soccer championships
Prevseason Link:1997 NIRSA National Soccer Championship
Nextseason Link:1999 NIRSA National Soccer Championship
Nextseason Year:1999

The 1998 NIRSA national soccer championship was the 5th NIRSA National Soccer Championships, the annual national championships for United States-based, collegiate club soccer teams organized by NIRSA. It took place at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Georgia from Thursday, November 19 to Saturday, November 21, 1998.[1]

Overview

Men's championship

In the finals, reigning men's open champions, Texas Tech, would face reigning champions, BYU, who were looking to claim their third straight title. Prior to this, both teams would top their respective groups with Texas Tech defeating Salt Lake CC 1–0 in their opener followed by a 2-2 tie with Georgia and a 6–0 win over Clemson in their finale. Meanwhile, BYU defeated Baylor 3-1 in a rematch of the 1996 finals, 1994 champions Purdue 4-1, and hosts Georgia Southern 5-0.

In the quarterfinals, BYU would defeat 1995 champions, Texas, 3-0 while Texas Tech would defeat Illinois 1-0. In the semifinals, BYU would defeat Salt Lake CC 5–0 in a rematch of last year's quarterfinal matchup that BYU won 2–1 while Texas Tech would defeat hosts Georgia Southern 4-1 to advance to their first finals. In the finals, BYU would dominate with a 4–0 win over Texas Tech, becoming the first team to win three national titles. Freshman, Brandon LeRoy, of BYU would be named the tournament's MVP after scoring five of the team's 23 goals while John Morris of BYU would be named the tournament's best goalkeeper after only conceding twice, with both goals being in the group stage.[2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

Women's championship

In the finals, reigning runners-up and undefeated Penn State would face 1995 champions, Colorado. Prior to this, in the group stage, Penn State would win their opener against Illinois 3–1 with two goals from Penn State's Kate Stober while Colorado would lose their first match of the season in the opener to Ohio River Soccer Conference semifinalist, Ohio State, 2–1. In their second match, Penn State defeated Texas State 6–0 while Colorado improved from their loss by beating Salisbury State 3-0. In the Group A finale, Penn State would face Virginia Tech with both teams already qualifying for the quarterfinals after Virginia Tech also won their first two matches by at least three goals. However, since Virginia Tech had yet to concede, Penn State would need to win to claim first place due to the goal they conceded to Illinois in their opener; any other result would leave Virginia Tech in first in the group. The game would go on to be deadlocked at 0–0, meaning Virginia Tech would win the group and face Group D runners-up, North Carolina, while Penn State would take second and face reigning champions, Colorado State.

Meanwhile, going into the final games in Group B, Colorado would face Clemson and Ohio State would face Salisbury State with the current standings having Clemson in first with 18 points, Colorado in second with 11 points, and Ohio State in third with 9 points. In the finale, Ohio State would claim all 10 possible points with a 3–0 win over Salisbury State, meaning if Ohio State and/or Colorado wanted to advance to the quarterfinals, Colorado would need to beat Clemson, which they would do with a 3–0 win over Clemson. After this, Colorado would top the group and face Texas A&M, Ohio State would finish second and face JMU, and Clemson would be eliminated being just one point shy of a quarterfinal berth.

In the quarterfinals, Colorado would defeat Texas A&M 3-1 while Penn State would face reigning champions Colorado State in a rematch of last year's finale which Colorado State won 1–0. In the game, Colorado State would open the scoring in the 15th minute and would carry the 1–0 lead into the break. Penn State would equalize in the 60th minute on penalty kick goal from Liz Villamil. The game would remain tied 1–1 after regulation, meaning overtime would be required. A goal at the end of the first period of overtime from Penn State's Ruth Uselton would give them their first lead of the match. Colorado State were unable to score in the five remaining minutes, sending Penn State to their second consecutive final four. In the semifinals, Colorado would defeat North Carolina 1-0 while Penn State would face another undefeated team, JMU, in a rematch of last years semifinal that Penn State won 2–1. In the match, Penn State's Katie Stober would open the scoring with a goal in the 43rd minute via a header following a shot from Ruth Uselton whose shot hit the crossbar. This would prove to be the lone goal of the match, giving JMU their first loss of the season and sending Penn State to their second straight finals. In the finals, the game would remain deadlocked at 0–0 after regulation, meaning extra time would be required, the first time it would be required for a women's championship final. The overtime would also remain scoreless meaning, for the first time in any of the four divisions, penalties would determine a division's champion. Colorado would go on to win the shootout 4–3 and claim their second title. Colorado's Nicole Skogg would be named the tournament MVP.[7] [8]

Men's open

In the finals, LSU would face off against Virginia in a rematch of their second group stage match. In the group stage, both teams would win their opener with LSU beating Rutgers 3-0 and Virginia beating Grand Valley State 1-0. In their second group stage match, Virginia would score the lone goal of the match against LSU to win 1-0. In the finale, both teams would win with LSU beating Grand Valley State 5-0 and Virginia beating Rutgers 2-0, meaning Virginia would top the group to face group H runners-up, Oregon, in the quarterfinals while LSU would face Group H winners, JMU "Purple".

In the quarterfinals, Virginia would win 2-1 and would face JMU's "Gold" team in the semifinals while LSU would win 4-0 and face Daytona Beach CC. In the semifinals, would once again win 2-1 and LSU would win 3-1 to set up the group stage rematch. In this rematch, LSU would this time be victorious after scoring the lone goal of the match en route to a 1–0 win over Virginia and would claim their first open title. LSU's Andre Dugas would go on to be named the tournament's MVP.[9]

Women's open

In the finals, Florida State would face off against reigning women's open runners-up, Colorado State "Green", otherwise known as Colorado State's "B" or second team in a rematch of both team's second game. Prior to this, in the group stage, both teams would win their opener with Florida State beating LSU 3-0 and Colorado State "Green" beating Georgia Tech 2-0. In the second match, both teams would face off and Colorado State "Green" would defeat Florida State in dominate fashion, 5-1. In the finale, Colorado State "Green" would defeat hosts Georgia Southern 9-0 while Florida State would defeat NW Missouri State 3-1. Both teams would end up topping their respective groups, meaning they automatically advanced to the semifinals.

In the semifinals, both teams would secure a 3-0 victory with Florida State defeating Georgia Tech, who defeated hosts Georgia Southern 4-1 in the opening round, while Colorado State "Green" defeated NW Missouri State who defeated LSU in penalties in their opening matchup. In the finals, the game would be deadlocked at 1-1 after regulation and overtime, meaning penalties would be required to determine a winner joining the current year's women's championship division in being the first championship games requiring penalties. Colorado State "Green" would go on to win in penalties and defeat Florida State to claim their first open title. Colorado State "Green's Courtney Kramer would be named the tournament's MVP.[10]

Format

The competition consisted of 54 teams partitioned into 32 men's teams and 22 women's teams. Each of these partitions were further divided into an invite-only championship division and an open division. All divisions except the women's open were divided into four groups of four teams with the women's open division having two groups of three teams each.

All 4 divisions began with a round-robin tournament. All teams except for ones in the women's open division played each of the other teams in their group once with teams in the women's open division playing each team in the other group from theirs once. Following this, the two best teams in each group advanced to a single-elimination, knockout round except in the women's open division where all teams advanced to the knockout round and the winners of each group receiving a bye to the semifinals.

The first metric for determining the best team in each group was points, calculated first by giving a team 6 points for a win, 3 points for a tie, and 0 points for a loss. Then, a team could be awarded an addition point for a shutout and an additional point for every goal scored, up to a max of 3 goals per game. If teams were tied on points, the following criteria were used in order:

  1. Winner of head-to-head competition
  2. Greatest goal difference
  3. Most goals scored
  4. Coin toss

The knockout stage was an 8-team tournament for all divisions except the women's open which had a 6-team tournament. Knockout stage games needed to declare a winner, meaning if one was tied at the end of regulation, overtime would begin. Overtime consisted of two complete 5-minute periods. If still tied after overtime, kicks from the mark would determine the winner.

All games consisted of two 40-minute halves with pool play and quarterfinal games were separated by a seven-minute halftime while the halves in the semifinals and finals were separated by a ten minute halftime. If a player received three yellow cards during the course of the tournament they would be suspended the following the game.[11]

Qualification and selections

Men's championship

Participating teams!Region!Team!Appearance!Last Bid
IPenn State2nd1997
IIGeorgia2nd1997
IIFlorida1stNever
IIGeorgia Southern1stNever
IIClemson2nd1996
IIIPurdue5th1997
IIIIllinois1stNever
IVTexas5th1997
IVBaylor2nd1996
IVTexas Tech2nd1994
IVTexas State1stNever
VColorado State2nd1996
VNorthern Colorado2nd1996
VISalt Lake CC4th1997
VIBYU3rd1997
VIUtah Valley State1stNever

Women's championship

Participating teams!Region!Team!Appearance!Last Bid
IPenn State4th1997
ISalisbury State1stNever
IIClemson3rd1997
IIJMU3rd1997
IINorth Carolina2nd1997
IITexas State1stNever
IIVirginia Tech1stNever
IIIMiami (OH)5th1997
IIIOhio State4th1997
IIIIllinois3rd1996
IVKansas3rd1997
IVTexas4th1997
IVTexas A&M2nd1997
VColorado4th1997
VColorado State2nd1997
VISalt Lake CC3rd1997

Men's open

RegionNumTeam
I1Rutgers
II7JMU "Purple", JMU "Gold", Miami (FL), Clemson, Daytona Beach CC, Armstrong Atlantic State, Virginia
III2Grand Valley State, Toledo
IV5LSU, San Antonio CC, Louisiana, Kansas State, Houston
V0
VI1Oregon

Women's open

RegionNumTeam
I0-
II3Georgia Tech, Florida State, Georgia Southern
III0-
IV2LSU, NW Missouri State
V1Colorado State "Green"
VI0-
Source:[12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25]

Group stage

Men's championship

Group A!Pos!Team!Pld!W!D!L!GF!GA!GD!SO!GFP!Pts!Qualification
1BYU3300122+101928Advanced to knockout stage
2Georgia Southern32016601518
3Baylor310256-10511
4Purdue3003211-9022
--------
Group B!Pos!Team!Pld!W!D!L!GF!GA!GD!SO!GFP!Pts!Qualification
1Colorado State320164+21518Advanced to knockout stage
2Illinois320165+10618
3Penn State31114401414
4Texas State301258-3058
--------
Group C!Pos!Team!Pld!W!D!L!GF!GA!GD!SO!GFP!Pts!Qualification
1Texas Tech321092+72623Advanced to knockout stage
2Salt Lake CC311154+10514
3Georgia302167-10612
4Clemson3102411-70410
--------
Group D!Pos!Team!Pld!W!D!L!GF!GA!GD!SO!GFP!Pts!Qualification
1Texas321061+52421Advanced to knockout stage
2Utah Valley State312064+21518
3Florida302145−10410
4Northern Colorado3012511-6058
--------

Women's championship

Group A!Pos!Team!Pld!W!D!L!GF!GA!GD!SO!GFP!Pts!Qualification
1Virginia Tech321060+63624Advanced to knockout stage
2Penn State321091+82623
3Illinois310246-21411
4Texas State3003012-12000
--------
Group B!Pos!Team!Pld!W!D!L!GF!GA!GD!SO!GFP!Pts!Qualification
1Colorado320182+62721Advanced to knockout stage
2Ohio State320163+31619
3Clemson320165+11518
4Salisbury State3003010−10000
--------
Group C!Pos!Team!Pld!W!D!L!GF!GA!GD!SO!GFP!Pts!Qualification
1JMU330090+93829Advanced to knockout stage
2Texas A&M320165+11518
3Salt Lake CC310254+11411
4Kansas3003011−11000
--------
Group D!Pos!Team!Pld!W!D!L!GF!GA!GD!SO!GFP!Pts!Qualification
1Colorado State321072+51723Advanced to knockout stage
2North Carolina31114401414
3Texas310226-4129
4Miami (OH)302112-1118
--------

Men's open

Group E!Pos!Team!Pld!W!D!L!GF!GA!GD!SO!GFP!Pts!Qualification
1Virginia330040+43425Advanced to knockout stage
2LSU320181+72620
3Grand Valley State310246-21310
4Rutgers300309-9000
--------
Group F!Pos!Team!Pld!W!D!L!GF!GA!GD!SO!GFP!Pts!Qualification
1JMU "Gold"320183+51619Advanced to knockout stage
2Toledo320165+12418
3San Antonio CC31114400413
4Miami (FL)301239-6036
--------
Group G!Pos!Team!Pld!W!D!L!GF!GA!GD!SO!GFP!Pts!Qualification
1Daytona Beach CC330084+41726Advanced to knockout stage
2Louisiana320194+50618
3Virginia Tech310246-21411
4Kansas State3003411-7044
--------
Group H!Pos!Team!Pld!W!D!L!GF!GA!GD!SO!GFP!Pts!Qualification
1JMU "Purple"3300183+151928Advanced to knockout stage
2Oregon311193+62516
3Houston3111194+151414
4Armstrong Atlantic State3003137-36011
--------

Women's open

Group E
PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDSOGFPPtsQualification
1Florida State320176+11720Advanced to semifinals
2Georgia Tech301214-3014Advanced to first round
3Georgia Southern3003017-17000
Group F
PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDSOGFPPtsQualification
1Colorado State "Green"3300161+152828Advanced to semifinals
2LSU320163+32418Advanced to first round
3NW Missouri State311154+11515
--------

Tournament bracket

Women's open

All-tournament teams

Key
MVP
Best goalkeeper

Men's championship

PositionNameTeam
ForwardBrandon LeRoyBYU
GKJohn MorrisBYU
DefenderAbe MillettBYU
ForwardCollin MorganUtah Valley State
MidfielderMichael DawdyTexas Tech
DefenderKevin KennedyGeorgia Southern
DefenderNate MorrisBYU
MidfielderTom MorseSalt Lake CC
DefenderChance AbbottTexas Tech
MidfielderChris SklarGeorgia Southern
DefenderJeff DupreTexas Tech
ForwardDave HuberSalt Lake CC
Sportsmanship Award
Salt Lake CC

Women's championship

PositionNameTeam
MidfielderNicole SkoggColorado
GKSarah LuceyColorado
MidfielderTinsley JonesJMU
DefenderPaige LoustalotTexas A&M
DefenderGeorganne HutchisonColorado
ForwardSheryl FreedmanNorth Carolina
DefenderKaren LupisPenn State
MidfielderLynne FogartyNorth Carolina
DefenderLisa ErbacherOhio State
MidfielderLiz VillamilPenn State
DefenderVarna SwartzJMU
ForwardKate StoberPenn State

Men's open

PositionNameTeam
DefenderAndre DugasLSU
GKChristian LaFreniereJMU "Gold"
DefenderJeff LeBlancLSU
DefenderBrad NitschkeToledo
ForwardClifton PhilipDaytona Beach CC
DefenderChris PotterVirginia
DefenderDave ChecchioVirginia
ForwardChris WardlawVirginia
ForwardChad WrightOregon
MidfielderTamer MoumenJMU
MidfielderChris GriffinLSU
MidfielderJeff CarrierLouisiana

Women's open

PositionNameTeam
MidfielderCourtney KramerColorado State "Green"
GKJennifer WaiteGeorgia Tech
DefenderJenica TapocikFlorida State
DefenderLauren JardellLSU
MidfielderMelissa ColeNorthwest Missouri State
DefenderShannon ForbesColorado State "Green"
DefenderLisa ImburgiaFlorida State
ForwardMary StalveyGeorgia Southern
DefenderElizabeth CoonGeorgia Tech
ForwardAdrienne WinghartColorado State "Green"
ForwardKathrine BishopColorado State "Green"
ForwardKelly PooleFlorida State
Sportsmanship Award
Florida State
Source:[26]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 1998 NIRSA Collegiate Soccer Sport Club Championships . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/19990421144059/http://nirsa.org/nirs15c2.htm . 1999-04-21 . NIRSA.
  2. Web site: 1998-11-25 . Campus notes – Brigham Young – National Champions . 2024-06-15 . Deseret News . en.
  3. News: Keller . Jeff . 1999-01-19 . Tech club soccer finishes strong . . 11.
  4. Book: Formby . Brandon . La Ventana . Keller . Jeff . . 1999 . 74th . 103 . en.
  5. News: Bresee . Eric . 1998-11-24 . BYU Too Much for Bruins Again . Salt Lake Community College Student Newspapers . 1, 6.
  6. Web site: 2010 Georgia Southern University Men's Soccer Media Guide . Georgia Southern Athletics.
  7. News: Steele . Darren . 1998-11-23 . Club soccer falls short of title . The Daily Collegian . 18.
  8. News: Bresee . Eric . 1998-11-24 . Women Lose Quickly . Salt Lake Community College Student Newspapers . 7.
  9. News: 1998-11-25 . Oregon has strong showing at Nationals . The Daily Emerald . 12.
  10. Web site: Soccer All-Time Roster . 2024-06-15 . Northwest Missouri State Athletics . en.
  11. Web site: Rules of play . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/19990421144059/http://nirsa.org/nirs15c2.htm#rule . 1999-04-21 . NIRSA.
  12. News: Salazar . Magda . Buck . David . 1998-11-16 . Club soccer heading to nationals . . 25.
  13. News: Greenfield . Jon . 1998-10-23 . Illini women's soccer . . 24.
  14. News: Falsone . Nick . 1998-11-20 . Men's soccer club ready to travel to national tournament . . 17.
  15. News: Spitzer . Michelle . 1998-10-29 . Soccer club's next goal – win nationals . . 20.
  16. News: Evans . Jared M. . 1998-11-18 . Club soccer team heads to nationals . . 10.
  17. News: O'Neill . Matt . 1998-11-19 . Club soccer on 4th visit to Nationals . . 7.
  18. News: Leichssenring . Susan . 1998-11-20 . Soccer team in Georgia . The Ranger . 9.
  19. News: Payne . Jen . 1998-11-03 . Club Soccer ranks on East Coast . Salisbury State University: Flyer . 1.
  20. News: 1998-11-03 . Two down, One to Go Bruins Win Dixie Title . Salt Lake Community College Student Newspapers . 7.
  21. News: Sports Staff . Bruin Beat – Soccer Notes . Salt Lake Community College Student Newspapers . 7.
  22. Taps (1999) . Yearbooks . . 1999 . 89th . Clemson, SC . 324 . en.
  23. Book: Royal Purple . . 1999 . 184 . en.
  24. Book: Bluestone 1999 . 1999 . . 90 . 358.
  25. Book: The Illio . 1999 . . 106 . 147 . en.
  26. Web site: 1998 Results . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/19990421000657/http://nirsa.org/nir15c22.htm . 1999-04-21 . NIRSA.