2012 NIRSA National Soccer Championship

In the men's championship finals, defending champion Weber State would return to face debutants Michigan State. Coming into the finals, both teams had only given up a single goal each in their first five games, that goal for both teams would come in the round of 16 and would require extra time with Michigan State needing penalty kicks to determine a winner. Following this, Michigan State would have a rematch with Illinois, Region III tournament champion and team who knocked them out of said tournament via penalty kicks in the semifinals. They would win via an own goal late in the match, then beat Wash U 3–0 in the semifinals. Meanwhile, Weber State would beat Texas A&M 2-0 then regional opponent Cal Poly who sent the defending champions to penalty kicks but couldn't defeat the reigning champs. In the finals, the game would be deadlocked at 0-0 after regular time and extra time, meaning the game would go into a penalty shootout, the second for both teams this tournament. Michigan State would kick first and to start, both teams would score their first attempts. In the second and third rounds, Michigan State scored but Weber State's attempt would be saved. Max Washko of Michigan State would score, ending the game at 4–1 on PKs and give Michigan State their first national championship while preventing the Weber State repeat. First penalty kick taker and captain for Michigan State, Matt Kaminski, would be named men's championship MVP.[3][4]

In the women's championship finals, debutants Michigan State would face power house UC-Santa Barbara who were looking to get their seventh national title after making their sixth straight finals appearance and winning all their previous five appearances in that streak, the longest such streak in any division. Coming into the finals, UCSB would not give up a single goal in their previous five games, but despite this would require a penalty shootout against 2011 semifinalist and 2010 finalist Texas in the semifinals. Meanwhile, Michigan State lost in the group stage finale against aforementioned Texas, but would go on to beat 2011 finalist Cal Poly, four-time champion Colorado, and finally Virginia in the semis. In the finals, Samantha Pace of Michigan State would open the scoring with a goal two minutes into the second half, but Nadia Zadeh of UC-Santa Barbara would even the score in the 61st minute. The game would remain tied at the end of regulation, meaning 15 minutes of extra time were to be played. Three minutes prior to the conclusion of extra time, eventual women's championship MVP Maddie Lucci of Michigan State would score the sudden-victory goal, giving Michigan State their first national title and ending UC-Santa Barbara's streak of five straight national titles and 21-straight national championship wins.[5]

In the men's open division finals, 2008 open champions UC-Berkeley would face 2009 open runners-up San Diego State. After a 1–1 score line after regulation and extra time, the game would go into a penalty shootout. San Diego State would go on to win 4-3 and claim their first open national championship. San Diego State's Berrick Rastok would go on to be named men's open division MVP.[6]

In the women's open division finals, 2009 open champions JMU would face 2010 open champions Illinois in both of the clubs' second finals appearance. The game would remain scoreless after regulation and extra time, meaning a penalty shootout would be required to name a champion. JMU would win 3-1 and claim their second national title in 4 years. JMU's Saundra Bailey would be named women's open's MVP.[7]

The competition consisted of 96 teams: 48 men's teams and 48 women's teams. Each of these divisions were further divided into two 24-team divisions: the championship and open. The championship division divided teams into eight groups of three while the open division divided teams into six groups of four, both engaging in a round-robin tournament that determined teams able to advance to a knockout stage. Pool play games were two 40-minute halves, separated by a seven-minute halftime and utilized the three points for a win system. In the championship division, the two highest ranked teams from each group advanced to their knockout stage, with the third placed team advancing to a consolation bracket. In the open division, the top team from each group as well as the two best second placed teams advanced to their knockout stage.

Knockout stage games also consisted of two 40-minute halves. The round of 16 and quarterfinals were separated by a seven-minute halftime while the semifinals and finals had a ten-minute halftime. Knockout stage games needed to declare a winner. If a knockout-stage game was tied at the end of regulation, overtime would begin. Overtime consisted of one, 15-minute, golden-goal period. If still tied after overtime, kicks from the mark would determine the winner.[8]

Each of the six regions received three automatic bids for both the men's and women's championship that they awarded to its members. The final six bids were considered "at-large", and were given out by NIRSA to teams, typically based on their regional tournament results and RPI.[2][9]

The 48 remaining teams participated in the open division, chosen on a first-come first-serve basis with a max of 4 teams per region being allowed in initially, with all teams applying after this being placed on the waitlist. Registration was online on September 25, 2012 at 8am PST.[10]