NCAA Tournament 2026

[CentPA]

It is that time once again!

The NCAA has released the NPI (Selections) rankings

[CentPA]

Here is a projection of who will be in the 64 Team Field this year, as well as who ended up just outside the bubble.

Of course we'll know if this matches the official results later this afternoon at 11:30am when the NCAA posts their "live" selection show.

[CentPA]

On Saturday, Cal Lutheran (#24 USC, #39 NPI prior to the game) scores the winning goal (and lone goal) in the 70th minute to win 1-0 over Pomona-Pitzer (RV USC, #43 NPI prior to the game) and captures the SCIAC Championship and the automatic qualifier into the tournament.

The loss drops Pomona-Pitzer to #48 in the NPI (Selections) and will end their six consecutive year run of making the NCAA Tournament!

[jknezek]

4 ODAC teams. That might be unprecedented. Not really a league known for it's depth of women's soccer talent.

[CentPA]

4 ODAC teams. That might be unprecedented. Not really a league known for it's depth of women's soccer talent.

I think you're right!

I looked at the ODAC conference website and best I can tell the ODAC at the most has put 3 teams in the tournamant.  They have done that multiple times in the past, but most recently they did that last year in 2025 (Bridgewater, VA Wesleyan - now Batten, and W&L).  Four teams in I believe is a new record for the conference and they are only one behind the two big power conferences: UAA and NESCAC who it looks like will have 5 teams in each this year.

[Ron Boerger]

Bracket is up:  https://www.ncaa.com/brackets/print/soccer-women/d3/2026

[D3Navy]

Bracket is up:  https://www.ncaa.com/brackets/print/soccer-women/d3/2026

Terrific that Trinity is hosting.  They've been under the radar (wrongly) all season and should be playing with some additional passion after the tight contest yesterday with Centre.

[CentPA]

Bracket is up:  https://www.ncaa.com/brackets/print/soccer-women/d3/2026

Terrific that Trinity is hosting.  They've been under the radar (wrongly) all season and should be playing with some additional passion after the tight contest yesterday with Centre.

I think the potential Sunday game between Pugent Sound and Trinity would be a good game to watch!

[D3Navy]

Bracket is up:  https://www.ncaa.com/brackets/print/soccer-women/d3/2026

Terrific that Trinity is hosting.  They've been under the radar (wrongly) all season and should be playing with some additional passion after the tight contest yesterday with Centre.

They aren't even regionally ranked but crushed Hardin-Simmons 5-0 (HSU is #2 in the region) and beat TLU (5th in the region).  It should be a quality game against Puget Sound.

I think the potential Sunday game between Pugent Sound and Trinity would be a good game to watch!

[WUPHF]

Did they really have to slot North Central and UChicago on opposite ends of the bracket? Rhetorical question.

[CentPA]

Did they really have to slot North Central and UChicago on opposite ends of the bracket? Rhetorical question.

This might be the funniest post I've seen in awhile! 

I was hoping they would have them in the same pod the opening weekend!