2002 NIRSA National Soccer Championship explained

2002 NIRSA National Soccer Championship
League:NIRSA
Sport:Soccer
Prevseason Year:2001
Hosts Alt:Site
Hosts:Kern County Soccer Complex
Bakersfield, California
Duration:November 21–23, 2002
No Of Teams:16 (men's championship)
16 (women's championship)
16 (men's open)
16 (women's open)
Picked By Team:Results
Season:Men's Championship Division
Season Champ Name:Score
Season Champs:2–0
League Champ Name:Champion
League Champs:Weber State
(1st title, 1st title game)
Second Place:BYU
(6th title game)
Mvp:Scott Badger (Weber State)
Season2:Women's Championship Division
Season Champ2 Name:Score
Season Champs2:2–1
League Champ2 Name:Champion
League Champs2:Michigan
(2nd title, 3rd title game)
Second Place2:Colorado
(3rd title game)
Mvp2:Katie Keller (Michigan)
Season3:Men's Open Division
Season Champ3 Name:Score
Season Champs3:4–0
League Champ3 Name:Champion
League Champs3:Texas A&M<br />(1st title, 1st title game)
Second Place3:Penn State
(1st title game)
Mvp3:Joe Shine (Texas A&M)
Season4:Women's Open Division
Season Champ4 Name:Score
Season Champs4:2–1 (a.e.t.)
League Champ4 Name:Champion
League Champs4:Delaware
(1st title, 1st title game)
Second Place4:Arizona
(1st title game)
Top Seed4:Sara White (Delaware)
Seasonslist:NIRSA National Soccer Championships
Seasonslistnames:NIRSA national soccer championships
Prevseason Link:2001 NIRSA National Soccer Championship
Nextseason Link:2003 NIRSA National Soccer Championship
Nextseason Year:2003

The 2002 NIRSA national soccer championship was the 9th NIRSA National Soccer Championships, the annual national championships for United States-based, collegiate club soccer teams organized by NIRSA. It took place at the Kern County Soccer Complex in Bakersfield, California from Thursday, November 21 to Saturday, November 23, 2002.

Overview

Men's championship

In the finals, 5-time, and reigning, champions BYU would face in-state rivals Weber State. Preceding the tournament, the teams had already played twice with BYU winning the first match 1–0 and both teams tying the second. In the group stage, BYU would win all three of their matches, first beating Indiana 2–0, then Delaware 5–1, and finally Rice 2–1. Meanwhile, Weber State would win their opener against Virginia 3–1, then would lose their second match 2–0 to Michigan, but would win their finale against Kansas 2–1 to secure second in the group.[1]

In the knockout round, Weber State would win their first two games by a score of 3–1, first against Arizona in the quarterfinals and then against Delaware in the semifinals, to advance to their first finals. Meanwhile, BYU would win their quarterfinal matchup 6–2 against Illinois followed by a 3–0 win against Michigan to reach their 6th finals in their 7th tournament appearance, winning all 5 of their previous finals appearances.

In the finals, Tyson Craythorne of Weber State would open the scoring six minutes into the game giving BYU their first deficit of the tournament. Near the end of match, BYU's goalkeeper, Erik Walunas, would receive a red card denying Weber State of an obvious goal scoring opportunity on a breakaway. Shortly after, in the final minutes of the match, Weber State's Curtis Whitesides would score the second goal of the game and secure Weber State's first NIRSA title. Weber State's goalkeeper, Scott Badger, would be named the tournament's MVP after maintaining a shutout despite facing 24 shots. Following this tournament, BYU would move to the Premier Development League and would not play at the club level again until 2015.[2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

Women's championship

In the finals, 2000 champions, Michigan, would face two-time champion Colorado in a rematch of the 1999 semifinals which Michigan won 1–0, the 2000 quarterfinals that Michigan won in penalties, and their group stage finale in this tournament. In the group stage, both teams would beat Maryland and Texas A&M by the same score of 3–0 and 4–1, respectively. These results secured a knockout round berth for both teams going into the group stage finale but following a 2–2 draw, both teams were level on all tie-breaking metrics, meaning a coin flip would need to be used to determine group seeding. Michigan would lose the coin flip and end up 2nd in the group, meaning they'd have to play Group A winners, JMU, in the quarterfinals while Colorado would face Group D runners-up, Virginia Tech.[7]

In the quarterfinals, Michigan would win 1–0 over JMU while Colorado would win 3–1 over Virginia Tech. In the semifinals, Michigan would beat San Diego State 3–0 while Colorado would beat two-time champion Miami (OH) 2–0. Both teams would make their third finals appearance.

In the finals, Colorado would open the scoring 5 minutes into the second half but Michigan would level the match 15 minutes later with a goal from junior, Bethany Dalby, on a penalty kick after it was deemed Colorado handled the ball in their own box. With five minutes remaining in the match, sophomore Gwen Reyes of Michigan would score what would go on to be the game-winning goal. Michigan's Katie Keller would be named tournament MVP and Michigan would become the fourth team to win two national titles following Miami (OH), Colorado, and Colorado State.[8]

Men's open

In the finals, Texas A&M would make their first finals and play against 2000 championship division winners, Penn State. Prior to this, in the group stage, both teams would top their groups after winning all three games, with Texas A&M defeating Oregon, Grand Valley State, and UC-Santa Barbara by a score of 1–0, 3–1, and 1–0 respectively and with Penn State defeating Colorado, Central Washington, and Wichita State by a score of 2–1, 2–0, and 5–1 respectively. In the quarterfinals, Texas A&M would defeat two-time open champions, JMU, by a score of 1–0 then would beat Colorado 3–0 in the semifinals. Meanwhile, Penn State would beat UC-Santa Barbara 1–0 in the quarterfinals then beat Utah Valley State 2–0. In the finals, Texas A&M would defeat Penn State by their largest margin of victory in a 4–0 win and claim their first open title. Texas A&M's Joe Shine would be named the tournament's MVP.

Women's open

In the finals, Delaware and Arizona would meet in what would be the first finals for both teams. In the group stage, both teams would win all 3 games with Arizona beating UC-Davis, Cornell, and Colorado "Black" by scores of 4–0, 3–0, and 2–1, respectively and with Delaware beating Colorado School of the Mines, Long Beach State (who did not attend), and Purdue by a score of 5–1, 1-0 (forfeit score), and 1-0 respectively.

In the knockout round, Arizona would defeat 1996 championship runners-up, Purdue, 2-1 then would beat 2000 open division champions Virginia 2–1 in the semifinals. Meanwhile, Delaware would defeat Texas Tech in penalties following a 0–0 draw in regulation and overtime, then would beat reigning open champions Colorado "Black" 2–0 in the semifinals. In the finals, the game would end in a 1–1 draw after regulation, making it the second straight year overtime would be required in the finals. In overtime, Delaware would score the game winning, golden-goal to win their first open championship. Co-captain, Sarah White, of Delaware would be named the division's MVP.[9]

Format

The competition consisted of 64 teams partitioned into 32 teams per gender. Each of these partitions were further divided into two 16-team divisions: an invite-only championship division and an open division. These divisions divided teams into four groups of four and first engaged in a round-robin tournament. In these groups, teams played each of the other three teams in their group once with the two best teams at the end of play advancing to an 8-team, single-elimination, knockout stage. The first metric for determining the best team 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

Knockout stage games needed to declare a winner. If a knockout-stage game was tied at the end of regulation, overtime would begin. Overtime in the quarterfinals consisted of two, 5-minute, golden-goal periods while in the semifinals and finals, overtime consisted of two, 10-minute, golden-goal periods. If still tied after overtime, kicks from the mark would determine the winner. Pool play and quarterfinal games were two 40-minute halves, separated by a seven-minute halftime with the semifinals and finals also being 40-minute halves, but having 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.[10]

Qualification and selections

Each of the six regions received two automatic bids for each the men's and women's championship divisions that they awarded to its members. The reigning champions, BYU in the men's division and Penn State in the women's division, received an automatic bid with the final 5 bids for each division considered "at-large", and given out by NIRSA to teams, typically based on their regional tournament results and RPI.[11] [12]

The remaining teams participated in the open division, chosen on a first-come first-serve basis via online registration beginning on September 3, 2002.[13]

Men's championship

Participating teams!Region!Team!Appearance!Last Bid
ICornell3rd2001
IDelaware1stNever
IIVanderbilt1stNever
IIVirginia1stNever
IIIIllinois4th2001
IIIMichigan3rd2001
IIIIndiana2nd1995
IVTexas7th2001
IVKansas3rd2000
IVRice1stNever
VColorado State6th2001
VMinnesota2nd2001
VIBYU7th2001
VIWeber State4th2001
VIArizona3rd2000
VISan Diego State1stNever

Women's championship

Participating teams!Region!Team!Appearance!Last Bid
IPenn State8th2001
IMaryland2nd1997
IPrinceton1stNever
IIJMU6th2001
IIVirginia Tech5th2001
IIFlorida3rd2000
IIIMiami (OH)9th2001
IIIOhio State7th2000
IIIMichigan4th2001
IIIMichigan State2nd2001
IVTexas A&M5th2001
IVTexas5th1998
VColorado8th2001
VColorado State6th2001
VISan Diego State4th2001
VIUC-Santa Barbara3rd2001

Men's open

Participating teams!Region!Num!Team
I1Penn State
II2Florida, JMU
III2Grand Valley State, Southern Illinois
IV1Texas A&M
V3Colorado, Iowa State, Wichita State
VI7Arizona State, UC-Santa Barbara, UC-San Diego, Central Washington, Oregon, Utah Valley State, Weber State "B"

Women's open

Participating teams!Region!Num!Team
I2Cornell, Delaware
II1Virginia
III2Illinois, Purdue
IV3Kansas, LSU, Texas Tech
V3Colorado Mines, Colorado State "Green", Colorado "Black"
VI5Arizona, UC-Berkeley, UC-Davis, Long Beach State, UCLA
Sources:[14] [15] [16]

Group stage

Men's championship

Group A!Pos!Team!Pld!W!D!L!GF!GA!GD!SO!GFP!Pts!Qualification
1Cornell321052+31521Advanced to knockout stage
2Vanderbilt311142+21414
3Minnesota311123−11212
4San Diego State301226−4025
--------
Group B!Pos!Team!Pld!W!D!L!GF!GA!GD!SO!GFP!Pts!Qualification
1BYU330092+71726Advanced to knockout stage
2Delaware310237−41310
3Rice310223−1129
4Indiana310224−2028
--------
Group C!Pos!Team!Pld!W!D!L!GF!GA!GD!SO!GFP!Pts!Qualification
1Michigan321041+32421Advanced to knockout stage
2Weber State320154+10517
3Kansas302134−1039
4Virginia301225−3025
--------
Group D!Pos!Team!Pld!W!D!L!GF!GA!GD!SO!GFP!Pts!Qualification
1Arizona312043+11417Advanced to knockout stage
2Illinois312032+12317
3Colorado State30302202213
4Texas301235−2036
--------

Women's championship

Group A!Pos!Team!Pld!W!D!L!GF!GA!GD!SO!GFP!Pts!Qualification
1JMU321084+40722Advanced to knockout stage
2Florida31026601613
3Michigan State31113300312
4Princeton310226−4129
--------
Group B!Pos!Team!Pld!W!D!L!GF!GA!GD!SO!GFP!Pts!Qualification
1Colorado321093+61824Advanced to knockout stage
2Michigan321093+61824
3Texas A&M310238−51310
4Maryland300307−7000
--------
Group C!Pos!Team!Pld!W!D!L!GF!GA!GD!SO!GFP!Pts!Qualification
1Miami (OH)321052+31521Advanced to knockout stage
2San Diego State31115500514
3Penn State30302202213
4Texas301225−3126
--------
Group D!Pos!Team!Pld!W!D!L!GF!GA!GD!SO!GFP!Pts!Qualification
1UC-Santa Barbara321062+42623Advanced to knockout stage
2Virginia Tech321031+22320
3Ohio State310235−21310
4Colorado State300326−4022
--------

Men's open

Group E!Pos!Team!Pld!W!D!L!GF!GA!GD!SO!GFP!Pts!Qualification
1Utah Valley State320165+10618Advanced to knockout stage
2JMU320142+21417
3UC-San Diego31116601616
4Southern Illinois301247+3047
--------
Group F!Pos!Team!Pld!W!D!L!GF!GA!GD!SO!GFP!Pts!Qualification
1Arizona State3210102+81622Advanced to knockout stage
2Weber State "B"320184+42721
3Iowa State302114−3118
4Florida3012211−9025
--------
Group G!Pos!Team!Pld!W!D!L!GF!GA!GD!SO!GFP!Pts!Qualification
1Texas A&M330051+42525Advanced to knockout stage
2UC-Santa Barbara320141+32418
3Grand Valley State310235−2039
4Oregon300316−5011
--------
Group H!Pos!Team!Pld!W!D!L!GF!GA!GD!SO!GFP!Pts!Qualification
1Penn State330092+71726Advanced to knockout stage
2Colorado320163+31619
3Central Washington301225−3025
4Wichita State301229−7025
--------

Women's open

Group E!Pos!Team!Pld!W!D!L!GF!GA!GD!SO!GFP!Pts!Qualification
1Arizona330091+82828Advanced to knockout stage
2Colorado "Black"320132+12317
3Cornell301215−4014
4UC-Davis301216−5014
--------
Group F!Pos!Team!Pld!W!D!L!GF!GA!GD!SO!GFP!Pts!Qualification
1Delaware230071+62525Advanced to knockout stage
2Purdue220151+42418
3Colorado Mines210229−7129
4Long Beach StateDid not attend
--------
Group G!Pos!Team!Pld!W!D!L!GF!GA!GD!SO!GFP!Pts!Qualification
1UC-Berkeley321062+42623Advanced to knockout stage
2Illinois31115500514
3Kansas310254+10410
4Colorado State "Green"310238−5039
--------
Group H!Pos!Team!Pld!W!D!L!GF!GA!GD!SO!GFP!Pts!Qualification
1Virginia330091+82727Advanced to knockout stage
2Texas Tech311135−20312
3UCLA310223−1129
4LSU301227−5025
--------

Source:[17] [18]

Tournament bracket

Men's championship

Source:[19]

Women's championship

Source:[20]

Men's open

Source:[21]

Women's open

Source:[22]

All-tournament teams

Men's championship

NameTeam
Scott BadgerWeber State
Curtis WhitesidesWeber State
Brent MoyesWeber State
TJ WatersWeber State
Eric SchuellerMichigan
Greg GavlikMichigan
Josh HollensDelaware
Roger GarrisonDelaware
Casey WaldronBYU
Chad OylerBYU
Matt AffleckBYU
Tom ThiesIllinois
Outstanding sportsmanship
Iowa State

Women's championship

NameTeam
Katie KellerMichigan
Breanne BennettMichigan
Ryann MacDonaldColorado
Ashley FelterMiami (OH)
Alissa ShawMichigan
Lauren RicheyColorado
Avy AustriaSan Diego State
Anna HaghgooieMichigan
Allison MarshallColorado
Rachel LehmanMiami (OH)
Gwen ReyesMichigan
Stacy KuntzColorado
Outstanding sportsmanship
Princeton

Men's open

NameTeam
Joe ShineTexas A&M
George MillasTexas A&M
John GarveyTexas A&M
Jake EggettUtah Valley State
Chad MeldrumPenn State
Chris CamachoTexas A&M
Pete LindahlPenn State
Mike RogersUtah Valley State
James TakowTexas A&M
Steve ToniattiPenn State
Brian BishopColorado
Jake ServinskyJMU

Women's open

NameTeam
Sara WhiteDelaware
Andrea GastellumArizona
Kate GuiderDelaware
Kelly MeltonVirginia
Samantha WatsonDelaware
Beth TaylorArizona
Caroline StoneColorado "Black"
Sara PlummerVirginia
Dana BerryDelaware
Leslie WatsonArizona
Courtney ShieldsDelaware
Kamaya DamwijkArizona
Source:[23] [24]

Notes

  1. News: 2002-11-24 . Kansas soccer loses . Lawrence Journal-World . 3C.
  2. News: Kowalewski . John . 2002-11-26 . Men's Soccer Club Wins Championship . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20230521160412/https://www.weber.edu/WSUToday/112602soccer.html . 2023-05-21 . 2023-05-27 . WSU Today.
  3. Web site: Evans . Joseph . 2002-11-24 . Weber State upsets BYU soccer in national finals . 2024-05-28 . The Daily Universe . en-US.
  4. Web site: Wuensch . Christopher . 2002-11-25 . Club soccer falls short of title . 2024-05-28 . Arizona Daily Wildcat.
  5. News: Browne . Mike . 2002-11-27 . Men's soccer . The Signpost . 6.
  6. Web site: 2003-03-07 . NCAA - Semi-amateur? BYU soccer club joins for-profit league . 2024-06-01 . ESPN.com.
  7. Web site: New champions crowned for the 2002 NIRSA Collegiate Soccer Sport Club Championships . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160419055308/http://nirsa.net/nirsa/wp-content/uploads/nirsaknow_2003-02.pdf . 2016-04-19 . NIRSA.
  8. Web site: Kolodgy . Megan . 2002-12-02 . Goals 'almost' achieved in nationial title season . 2024-05-28 . The Michigan Daily . en-US.
  9. News: McKown . Scott . 2002-12-10 . Women's club soccer wins national tourney . The Review . A1.
  10. Web site: Rules of Play . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20021230173559/http://www.nirsa.net/sc/soccer/2002/rules.htm . 2002-12-30 . NIRSA.
  11. Web site: Tournament Qualifying Logistics . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20021225040658/http://www.nirsa.net/sc/soccer/2002/logistics.htm . 2002-12-25 . NIRSA.
  12. Web site: Soccer News . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20021225040726/http://www.nirsa.net/sc/soccer/2002/news.htm . 2002-12-25 . NIRSA.
  13. Web site: Essential Information . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20030319005211/http://www.nirsa.net/sc/soccer/2002/info.htm . 2003-03-19 . NIRSA.
  14. Web site: 2002 Participants . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20051028055316/http://nirsa.net/sc/soccer/2002/participants.htm . 2005-10-28 . NIRSA.
  15. News: Wooding . Chuck . 2002-11-19 . KU Men headed to national tourney . Lawrence Journal-World . 8B.
  16. News: Wilhelm . Andy . 2002-11-19 . Women's club soccer prepares for nationals . The Lantern . 14.
  17. Web site: Granholm . Cory . 2002-11-15 . Tournament Schedule . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20030726002755/http://nirsa.net/sc/soccer/2002/pics/schedule.pdf . 2003-07-26 . NIRSA.
  18. Web site: Granholm . Cory . 2002-11-27 . Tournament Results . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20030725203049/http://nirsa.net:80/sc/soccer/2002/pics/results.pdf . 2003-07-25 . NIRSA.
  19. Web site: Men's Championship Division Bracket . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20041229170437/http://www.nirsa.net/sc/soccer/2002/bracket_mc.htm . 2004-12-29 . NIRSA.
  20. Web site: Women's Championship Division Bracket . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20050217234942/http://nirsa.net/sc/soccer/2002/bracket_wc.htm . 2005-02-17 . NIRSA.
  21. Web site: Men's Open Division Bracket . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20050217234500/http://nirsa.net/sc/soccer/2002/bracket_mo.htm . 2005-02-17 . NIRSA.
  22. Web site: Women's Open Division Bracket . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20050217235147/http://nirsa.net/sc/soccer/2002/bracket_wo.htm . 2005-02-17 . NIRSA.
  23. Web site: All-Tournament . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20051222060516/http://nirsa.net/sc/soccer/2002/alltourney.htm . 2005-12-22 . NIRSA.
  24. Web site: 2002 Tournament Photos . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20050312112822/http://www.nirsa.net:80/sc/soccer/2002/photos.htm . 2005-03-12 . NIRSA.