2017 NIRSA National Soccer Championship

In the men's championship division, the most successful club in the division, BYU, made their NIRSA return after a 15-year hiatus participating in USL League Two. This return saw them cruise to their 7th national title game with 14 goals for and only 2 goals against heading into the finals. They would face Cal Poly who were making their 1st national title game appearance after an impressive performance of their own with 13 goals for and only 2 against despite tying their first group stage game 0-0. In the finals, BYU started early with a goal in the 19th minute, then continued to control the game by scoring three more uncontested goals, including a brace from eventual MVP Tanner Whitworth, in a 4–1 victory and their 6th national title.[2]

In the women's championship division, the division's most successful club, UC-Santa Barbara, also returned to the finals for the 10th time to defend their title as reigning champion to face Texas who were making their second finals appearance. Eventual MVP Mariela Cisneros of UC-Santa Barbara opened the scoring 20 minutes into the game in an eventual 3–0 win. This was UC-Santa Barbara's 8th, and second consecutive, title. No other team has more than 6 titles in any division.[3]

In the men's open division, the finals would see finals debutants Arizona face 1995 men's championship winner, Texas making their 4th finals appearance and the first appearance as the main team. A first half goal would be enough to see Arizona win 1-0 for their first men's open title in their first title game. Karai Keil of Arizona would be named men's open MVP.[4][5]

In the women's open division, Colorado's "Black" team would face Oregon. Oregon took an early lead but Colorado tied the game in the second half. A late goal from Meghan Schroeder of Oregon would see Oregon win their first ever title in their 3rd finals appearance.[6]

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.[7]

Each of the six regions received three automatic bids for both the men's and women's championship that they award to its members. The final six bids are considered "at-large", and are given out by NIRSA to teams, typically based on the regional tournament results and RPI.[8]

The 48 remaining teams participating in the open division were selected via a lottery draw that aired on YouTube on October 3, 2017, at 1pm PST. Any team with membership in a NIRSA-affiliated league or with a minimum of four games played prior to the tournament were able to enter their name into the lottery. If a selected team qualified for the championship division, an alternate would take their spot. 62 men's teams and 67 women's were selected.[9]