Truett McConnell, TWU receive NAIA Opening Round Assignments

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – [First & Second Round Schedule] The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has officially announced the teams and pairings for the 2023 NAIA Women's Soccer National Championship. The 40-team field will kick things off in the NAIA National Championship First & Second Rounds presented by Select Sport America, at 16 campus locations on November 16-18.

The 2023 NAIA National Championship Second Round winners will meet up in Foley, Ala., at the NAIA National Championship final site event. The final site takes place at the Foley Sports Tourism Championship Stadium from November 27 – December 4, 2023, hosted by Gulf Shores/Orange Beach Sports & Events.

Truett McConnell and Tennessee Wesleyan will represent the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC). Truett McConnell earned an automatic berth as the regular-season and tournament champion, while Tennessee Wesleyan received an automatic berth as the tournament runner-up.

This year's championship 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.

All championship first and second round matches will be video streamed by the host.

The NAIA Network – the association's official video streaming home – will broadcast 14 matches live at the  NAIA Women's Soccer National Championship final site in Foley, Ala., and the championship match will be on ESPN3. The NAIA Network, powered by PrestoSports, 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.

Qualifier Highlights

• Life (Ga.), LSU Alexandria (La.), OUAZ (Ariz.), UC Merced (Calif.), and Xavier (La.) all qualified for the first time in program history.
• Of the 40-team field, Siena Heights ends the longest national tournament field drought, of six years dating back to the 2017 season.
• Tenneesse Southern returns in 2023 for their 20th national tournament appearance.
• Spring Arbor (Mich.) and Tennessee Southern both enter the 40th Women's Soccer National Championship field with three Red Banners.
• William Carey (Miss.) enters the national tournament as the only team to reach 20 wins this season.
• Spring Arbor (Mich.) leads the field with an overall tournament record of 34-9-3.
• Aquinas (Mich.), Siena Heights (Mich.), Spring Arbor (Mich.), and William Carey (Miss.) are the only undefeated teams left in the field.
• For a full look at all of the First & Second Round tournaments and matchups, click HERE