2026 NCAA DII Women's Soccer Championship Bracket and Schedule

2026 NCAA DII Women’s Soccer Championship Bracket and Schedule

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The 56-team, single-elimination championship bracket for the 2026 NCAA Division II women’s soccer tournament is now in motion.

Following the selection show on Monday, Nov. 9, the opening rounds have officially commenced to determine which programs will advance toward the national title.

The tournament structure places immense pressure on every participating side, as a single loss ends a season immediately. This high-stakes format has defined DII soccer for decades, creating a path where parity often overrides preseason expectations.

According to NCAA.com, the first round of competition continues through Friday, Nov. 13. This initial phase serves as a brutal filter for the field, whittling down the 56 entrants before the second round begins on Saturday, Nov. 14.

2026 NCAA DII Women’s Soccer Southeast Regional — Nighthawk Sports Network

Early results from the first round

The opening matches have already produced several narrow victories that highlight the defensive grit required to survive the postseason. Several teams managed to secure their advancement by a single goal, demonstrating how thin the margin for error remains in single-elimination play.

Recent scores from the opening matches include:

Ncaa womens soccer bracket
  • No. 5 UNC Pembroke defeated No. 4 Catawba 1-0
  • No. 3 Pittsburg State defeated No. 6 Northern State 1-0
  • No. 6 West Chester defeated No. 3 Fairmont State 1-0
  • No. 3 Francis Marion defeated No. 6 Lenoir-Rhyne 2-0
  • No. 4 Frostburg State defeated No. 5 Slippery Rock 1-0
  • No. 4 Central Missouri defeated No. 5 Mary 5-0
  • No. 1 Columbus State defeated No. 8 Flagler 1-0
  • No. 3 Franklin Pierce defeated No. 6 Molloy 4-1
  • No. 4 Saint Michael’s defeated No. 5 Bridgeport 1-0

One of the most grueling contests saw No. 6 Wayne State (Michigan) edge out No. 3 McKendree with a 2-1 victory after playing through two extra periods. Such matches test the physical conditioning and mental fortitude of student-athletes, often deciding a season in the dying minutes of overtime.

The road to the championship

As the tournament progresses, the schedule tightens, moving from the initial regional matchups into the deep stages of the national bracket. The competition will transition through several distinct phases of intensity.

2026 NCAA DII Women’s Soccer Southeast Regional — Nighthawk Sports Network

The upcoming schedule for the tournament is as follows:

Round Date
Second Round Nov. 14–15
Third Round Nov. 20
Quarterfinals Nov. 22
Semifinals Dec. 3
Championship Dec. 5

The semifinal matches are scheduled for 5 p.m. ET and 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, Dec. 3. The final showdown, which will crown the 2026 champion, is set for 4 p.m. ET on Saturday, Dec. 5.

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Looking back at the tournament’s history, the championship has often been decided by razor-thin margins. In 2023, Point Loma secured a 1-0 victory over Washburn, and in 2024, Cal Poly Pomona won a 2-1 match against Minnesota State. These historical precedents suggest that even as the field narrows, the ability to defend a lead remains as critical as the ability to score one.

The tournament continues with second-round matches on Saturday, Nov. 14, including matchups such as No. 2 Minnesota State against No. 7 Missouri Western and No. 2 Ashland against No. 7 Grand Valley State.

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