Bellevue to face Marian in Opening Round

NAIA Release
NAIA Opening Round Schedule

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- On Monday the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics announced the 40-team Women's Soccer National Tournament Field.

Bellevue (13-3-2) is making its second-consecutive and seventh appearance overall in the NAIA National Tournament. The Bruins qualified by winning the Continental Athletic Conference Tournament for the first time and securing one of two bid allotted to the CAC.

The Bruins will be the No. 4 seed in the Indianapolis Bracket where they will meet host and No. 2-ranked Marian University (17-0-2). The Knights won the Crossroads League regular-season title and reached the Championship Game before having that match called off due to player safety concerns amid unplayable field conditions.

With 13 wins to their credit thus far, Bellevue is having its winningest campaign since the 2014 squad posted a 16-win season. Joining BU and Marian in Indianapolis will be second-seeded Campbellsville University (11-5-1) and third-seeded MidAmerica Nazarene University (15-4-0).

The 40-team NAIA Opening Round event at 10 campus locations will occur from November 17-19.

The 2022 NAIA Opening Round winners will meet up in Orange Beach, Ala., at the NAIA National Championship final site event. The 39th annual championship takes place at the Orange Beach Sportsplex November 29 – December 5, 2021.

This year's opening round field includes 27 automatic qualifiers and 13 at-large selections. Automatic berths were given to teams that either won their respective conference tournament title, regular-season championship, or finished runner-up at the conference tournament or regular season as determined by each conference qualification plan. The at-large bids were determined by the NAIA Women's Soccer National Selection Committee. This committee consists of one representative from each geographical area, a representative from the National Administrative Council, the president of the NAIA-Women's Soccer Coaches Association, and three at-large members. The committee evaluated teams throughout the year on various criteria.

The NAIA Network – the association's official video streaming home – will broadcast all 10 matches live at the  NAIA Women's Soccer National Championship final site in Orange Beach, Ala. The video platform, powered by Stretch Internet, allows users access to live video, statistics, and social interaction on a number of devices, including mobile. Single day passes can be purchased for $9.95, while an all-championship tournament package is available at $34.95. For more information and to pre-register, click HERE.