2020 NCAA Division I women's soccer season

The 2020 NCAA Division I women's soccer season is the 38th season of NCAA championship women's college soccer. The season was originally slated to begin on August 20, 2020 and conclude on November 9, 2020. The season was to culminate with the 2020 NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Tournament, which was to be held from November 18 to December 13, 2020, with the four-team College Cup.

2020 NCAA Division I women's soccer season
DurationFall season: September 10 – November 15, 2020
Spring season: February 3 – May 17, 2021
Number of teams306
Statistics
Tournament
DurationApril 30 to May 17, 2021
College Cup
DateMay 17, 2021
SiteTBD
Seasons
← 2019
2021 →

On August 13, 2020, the NCAA Tournament, along with all fall sport tournaments, was suspended due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.[1] Leading up to the postseason tournament suspension, some conferences had planned to play conference-only matches during the fall season, while some conferences opted to postpone the season to Spring 2021 (February to May 2021).[2] Ultimately, the Atlantic Coast Conference, Big 12 Conference, Southeastern Conference, and the Sun Belt Conference began play for the 2020 fall season; while a handful of programs scheduled competitive fixtures for the fall 2020 season: Navy, Mercer, Middle Tennessee, and UAB.

On September 16, 2020 the NCAA announced that the spring season will run from February 3 to April 17, 2021, culminating with the NCAA Tournament, which will be reduced from 48 to 36 teams for this season only. The postponed NCAA Tournament will begin on April 30 and conclude on May 17, 2021. The ACC, Big 12, SEC, and Sun Belt champions, who will be determined in November, will earn automatic bids into the tournament. Nevertheless, the season began on September 10, 2020, with Appalachian State hosting Pitt, with Pitt winning the match 4–0.

Preseason

New programs

On November 27, 2017, it was announced that, in 2020, the Tritons of the University of California, San Diego, located in the San Diego, California district of La Jolla, would begin the transition from Division II to Division I as a member of the Big West Conference.[3]

On January 11, 2019, it was announced that the Trailblazers of Dixie State University of St. George, Utah would begin the transition from Division II to Division I as a member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC).[4]

On June 17, 2019, it was announced that the Knights of Bellarmine University of Louisville, Kentucky would begin the transition from Division II to Division I as a member of the Atlantic Sun Conference.[5]

Chicago State University announced on June 23, 2020 that it would begin men's soccer effective immediately. The school had first committed to adding the sport when joining the Western Athletic Conference in 2014, and it budgeted for a team in 2016, but the school did not then begin play due to financial challenges and seriously discussed leaving Division I.[6] The decision to finally add men's soccer came at the same time the school dropped baseball due to fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Cougars will play in their full-time home of the WAC [7] but will not begin conference play until 2021.[8]

On July 15, 2020, after months of consideration, the NCAA granted the highly unusual request of the University of St. Thomas to move directly from Division III to Division I. The school had already accepted an invitation to join the Summit League, and the Tommies will enter Division I and Summit League competition in 2021.[9]

Conference realignment
School Previous Conference New Conference
Cal State Bakersfield [10] Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Big West Conference
UC San Diego California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) (Division II) Big West Conference
Dixie State Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) (Division II) Western Athletic Conference (WAC)
Kansas City [11] Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Summit League
Bellarmine Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) (Division II) Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN)
UConn [12] American Athletic Conference Big East Conference
Purdue Fort Wayne [13] Summit League Horizon League
NJIT [14] Atlantic Sun Conference America East Conference
Robert Morris[15] Northeast Conference Horizon League

Impact of COVID-19 on season
Further information: Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on association football

For the 2020 season, several changes in how the season began, and how conference play was organized affected the 2020 season.

  • The Atlantic 10 Women's Soccer Tournament, for the 2020 season only, will be reduced from eight teams to four, to minimize travel and contamination.[16]
  • The Big East Conference divided into two divisions, the "East" and "Midwest" divisions to minimize travel and to regionalize conference play.[17]
  • The Big South Conference Women's Soccer Tournament, for the 2020 season only, will be reduced from six teams to four, to minimize travel and contamination.[18]
  • The Mid-American Conference discontinued its women's soccer tournament.[19]
  • The Southern Conference Women's Soccer Tournament, for the 2020 season only, will be reduced from six teams to four, to minimize travel and contamination.[20]
  • On July 8, the Ivy League cancelled all intercollegiate sports for the 2020 Fall semester; this includes both men's and women's soccer.[21]
  • On July 10, the Big Ten and Pac-12 Conferences announced all teams will play the 2020 season with conference-only matches[22]
  • On July 13, the Patriot League announced that all fall sports, including women's soccer would be cancelled.[23]
  • On July 17, the Atlantic 10 Conference announced that all fall sports, including women's soccer, would be postponed to spring 2021.[24]
  • On August 13, the Western Athletic Conference announced that all fall sports, including women's soccer, would be postponed to spring 2021. However, the league is allowing nonconference games.[25]
  • On August 13, the Southern Conference announced that conference competition in all fall sports, including women's soccer, would be suspended through the end of the calendar year.[26]
  • On August 14, the Atlantic Sun Conference announced that all fall sports, including women's soccer, would be postponed with the intent to hold them in the spring 2021.[27]
  • On August 15, the NCAA suspended the women's soccer championship for the fall season, with the possibility of being played in winter or spring 2021
  • On August 27, four conferences confirmed to play in the fall, with individual programs allowed to play games in the fall. The ACC, Big 12, SEC, and the Sun Belt will play in fall 2020. The other conferences will play in spring 2021.

Fall 2020 season

Standings
2020 ACC women's soccer standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L T PCT  W L T PCT
No. 1 Florida State  ‍†‍‡‍ 8–0–0 1.000  11–0–0 1.000
No. 2 North Carolina  ‍†‍‍ 8–0–0 1.000  11–1–0 .917
No. 10 Virginia  ‍‍‍ 5–2–1 .688  8–3–1 .708
No. 6 Clemson  ‍‍‍ 5–3–0 .625  6–4–0 .600
No. 5 Duke  ‍‍‍ 4–2–2 .625  7–4–2 .615
Louisville  ‍‍‍ 4–4–0 .500  4–5–0 .444
Virginia Tech  ‍‍‍ 4–4–0 .500  5–8–0 .385
No. 14 Notre Dame  ‍‍‍ 4–4–0 .500  4–5–0 .444
Wake Forest  ‍‍‍ 3–4–1 .438  3–5–1 .389
Pittsburgh  ‍‍‍ 3–5–0 .375  9–5–0 .643
Boston College  ‍‍‍ 1–7–0 .125  1–7–0 .125
Syracuse  ‍‍‍ 1–7–0 .125  1–7–0 .125
Miami  ‍‍‍ 0–8–0 .000  0–9–0 .000
† – Conference champion
‡ – 2020 ACC Tournament champion
As of November 24, 2020; Rankings from United Soccer Coaches Poll
Source: The ACC
Note: † Due to COVID-19, NC State has suspended the 2020 women's soccer season.
2020 Big 12 Conference women's soccer standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L T PCT  W L T PCT
No. 3 TCU†  ‍‍‍ 8–0–1 .944  8–0–1 .944
No. 4 West Virginia  ‍‍‍ 7–2–0 .778  7–2–0 .778
No. 11 Oklahoma State  ‍‍‍ 6–2–1 .722  6–2–1 .722
No. 15 Kansas  ‍‍‍ 5–3–1 .611  5–3–1 .611
Baylor  ‍‍‍ 3–3–3 .500  3–3–3 .500
Texas  ‍‍‍ 4–5–0 .444  4–5–0 .444
Kansas State  ‍‍‍ 3–6–0 .333  3–6–0 .333
Texas Tech  ‍‍‍ 2–5–2 .333  2–5–2 .333
Iowa State  ‍‍‍ 2–6–1 .278  2–6–1 .278
Oklahoma  ‍‍‍ 0–8–1 .056  0–8–1 .056
† – Conference champion
y – Invited to the NCAA Tournament
Rankings from United Soccer Coaches
Source[28]
2020 SEC women's soccer standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L T PCT  W L T PCT
East
No. 13 Tennessee  ‍†‍‍ 4–3–1 .563  4–3–1 .563
No. 10 South Carolina  ‍‍‍ 6–2–0 .750  6–2–0 .750
Missouri  ‍‍‍ 3–2–2 .571  3–2–2 .571
Vanderbilt  ‍‍‍ 4–4–0 .500  4–4–0 .500
Georgia  ‍‍‍ 2–3–2 .429  2–3–2 .429
Kentucky  ‍‍‍ 1–4–3 .313  1–4–3 .313
Florida  ‍‍‍ 1–6–1 .188  1–6–1 .188
West
No. 7 Arkansas  ‍†‍‍ 7–1–0 .875  7–1–0 .875
No. 8 Texas A&M  ‍‍‍ 7–1–0 .875  7–1–0 .875
Mississippi State  ‍‍‍ 2–3–3 .438  2–3–3 .438
Auburn  ‍‍‍ 3–3–2 .500  3–3–2 .500
No. 14 Ole Miss  ‍‍‍ 4–4–0 .500  4–4–0 .500
Alabama  ‍‍‍ 2–4–2 .375  2–4–2 .375
LSU  ‍‍‍ 0–6–2 .125  0–6–2 .125
† – Conference champion
‡ – 2020 SEC Tournament champion
As of November 10, 2020; Rankings from United Soccer Coaches Poll
Source: SEC
2020 Sun Belt Conference women's soccer standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L T PCT  W L T PCT
East
South Alabama  ‍†‍‍ 8–2–0 .800  10–3–1 .750
Georgia State  ‍‍‍ 6–2–2 .700  10–3–2 .733
Coastal Carolina  ‍‍‍ 6–4–0 .600  6–5–0 .545
Appalachian State  ‍‍‍ 4–6–0 .400  5–9–1 .367
Georgia Southern  ‍‍‍ 3–6–1 .350  3–10–1 .250
Troy  ‍‍‍ 1–8–1 .150  2–9–1 .208
West
Arkansas State  ‍†‍‍ 7–0–1 .938  10–2–1 .808
Louisiana  ‍‍‍ 4–3–1 .563  9–5–1 .633
Texas State  ‍‍‍ 4–4–0 .500  4–9–1 .321
Little Rock  ‍‍‍ 3–3–2 .500  4–5–3 .458
Louisiana–Monroe  ‍‍‍ 0–8–0 .000  0–10–0 .000
† – Conference champion
‡ – 2020 Sun Belt Tournament champion
As of November 12, 2020; Rankings from United Soccer Coaches Poll
Source: Sun Belt Conference

Rankings
Main article: 2020 NCAA Division I women's soccer rankings

Spring 2021 season

Statistics

Individual statistics

Source: NCAA.com

Goals
Rank Scorer School Games Goals
1
2
3
3
5
6
6
6
6
6
Goals Against Average
Rank Keeper School Games Minutes GA GAA
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Assists
Rank Player School Games Assists
1
2
3
3
3
6
6
6
6
6
Save Percentage
Rank Keeper School Games Minutes Saves GA Save %
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Points
Rank Player School Games Goals Assists Points
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Saves
Rank Keeper School Games Saves
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
  • Individual statistics are through the games of September 28, 2020

See also

References
  1. "NCAA President Emmert: 'We cannot have fall NCAA championships'". NCAA. August 13, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
  2. "Future Dates & Sites". NCAA & Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  3. "Cal State Bakersfield, UC San Diego to join Big West in 2020". The Washington Post. November 27, 2017. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  4. "Blazing a New Trail: Dixie State Accepts Invitation to Join Western Athletic Conference" (Press release). Dixie State Trailblazers. December 2, 2019. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  5. "DONE D-1 DEAL". wdrb.com. June 17, 2019. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  6. "University Budget Committee minutes" (PDF). Chicago State University. April 26, 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 14, 2018. Retrieved September 2, 2016.
  7. "Chicago State University Board of Trustees Announces Discontinuation of Baseball" (Press release). Chicago State Cougars. June 23, 2020. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  8. "Chicago State Announces Sport Sponsorship Adjustment". Western Athletic Conference. June 23, 2020. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  9. "St. Thomas can go D1; Minn. school was ousted from D3 league". Minnesota Public Radio. July 16, 2020. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  10. "CSU Bakersfield Accepts Invitation To Join Big West Conference". Cal State Bakersfield. November 27, 2017. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  11. "Kansas City Roo Athletics Rejoins Summit League". June 20, 2019. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  12. Borzello, Jeff (July 26, 2019). "UConn leaving AAC in '20, will owe $17M exit fee". ESPN. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
  13. "Purdue Fort Wayne leaving Summit League to join Horizon League for the 2020-2021 season". CBS Sports. August 6, 2019. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
  14. "NJIT switches conferences to America East from Atlantic Sun". ESPN. June 12, 2020. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  15. "Robert Morris to Join Horizon League" (Press release). Horizon League. June 15, 2020. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  16. "A-10 Concludes First-Ever Virtual Spring Meetings; Modifies Schedules, Championship Formats". atlantic10.com. May 14, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  17. "BIG EAST Announces Changes to 2020 Fall Sports Scheduling". June 8, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  18. "Big South Statement on 2020-21 Efficiencies and Championships". BigSouthSports.com. May 11, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  19. Strack, Jordan (May 12, 2020). "Major changes coming to Mid-American Conference". Toledo, OH: WTOL. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  20. "SoCon announces cost containment measures for 2020-21". SoConSports.com. May 14, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  21. "Ivy League won't hold sports this fall, becoming first D-1 conference to suspend football season". Washington Post. July 8, 2020. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
  22. Dinich, Heather; Schalabach, Mark (July 10, 2020). "Pac-12 follows Big Ten in moving to conference-only schedule for fall sports". ESPN. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  23. Eskilson, J.R. (July 13, 2020). "Patriot League cancels fall season". TopDrawer Soccer. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  24. "Atlantic 10 Conference Postpones Fall Sport Competitions and Championships". atlantic10.com. July 17, 2020. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  25. "Western Athletic Conference won't engage in fall sports competition". NCAA. August 13, 2020. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  26. "Southern Conference postpones fall conference competition". NCAA. August 13, 2020. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  27. "Here's the latest fall sports news for Friday evening". NCAA. August 14, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
  28. "Big 12 Conference - Women's Soccer Standings". Big 12 Conference. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
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