2021 NCAA Division I men's soccer championship game

The 2021 NCAA Division I men's soccer championship game (also known as the 2021 NCAA Division I Men's College Cup) was played on December 12, 2021, at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina and determined the winner of the 2021 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Tournament, the national collegiate soccer championship in the United States. This was the 63rd edition of the oldest active competition in United States college soccer.

2021 NCAA Division I men's soccer championship game
WakeMed Soccer Park hosted the final
Event2021 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Tournament
DateDecember 12, 2021
VenueWakeMed Soccer Park, Cary, North Carolina, U.S.
Man of the MatchGeorge Marks
Isiah Reid
RefereeDaniel Radford
Attendance7,238
WeatherSunny, 51 °F (11 °C)
2020
2022

The tournament returned to its traditional mid-December date after being held in the spring the previous year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The match featured Clemson University of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and the University of Washington of the Pac-12 Conference. It was Clemson's fifth appearance in the final, and their first since 2015. Washington was making their first appearance in the national championship game.

Clemson went on to win the match to win, 2–0, behind two first half goals from Isaiah Reid. The title gave Clemson their first NCAA title in men's soccer since 1987, and their third overall title.[1][2]

Road to the final

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The NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Tournament, sometimes known as the College Cup, is an American intercollegiate soccer tournament conducted by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), and determines the Division I men's national champion. The tournament has been formally held since 1959, when it was an eight-team tournament. Since then, the tournament has expanded to 48 teams, in which every Division I conference tournament champion is allocated a berth. It was Clemson's fifth appearance in the final, and their first since 2015. Washington was making their first appearance in the national championship game.[3] Clemson had previously won the NCAA Tournament in 1984 and 1987.

Clemson (ACC) Round Washington (Pac-12)
Opponent Result NCAA Tournament Opponent Result
Bye First Round Bye
Denver (Summit) 2–1 (H) Second Round Portland (WCC) 3–1 (H)
Kentucky (C-USA) 2–1 (H) Third Round (Sweet 16) Indiana (Big Ten) 3–2 (H)
Oregon State (Pac-12) 1–1 (A) Quarterfinals (Elite 8) Saint Louis (A-10) 2–0 (H)
Notre Dame (ACC) 1–1 (N) College Cup (Final 4) Georgetown (Big East) 2–1 (N)

Match details

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Final
Clemson2–0Washington
Reid   1', 15' Report
Attendance: 7,238
GK 1   George Marks
DF 3   Oskar Ågren
DF 15   Charlie Asensio
DF 4   Justin Malou
DF 5   Hamady Diop
MF 18   Alvaro Gomez
MF 8   Callum Johnson
MF 17   Quinn McNeill
MF 10   Luis Fernandez-Salvador
MF 21   Osmane Sylla
FW 27   Isaiah Reid
Manager:
  Mike Noonan
GK 0   Sam Fowler
DF 2   Kendall Burks
DF 20   Charlie Ostrem
DF 5   Achille Robin
DF 4   Ryan Sailor
MF 6   Kalani Kossa-Rienzi
MF 8   Gio Miglietti
MF 10   James Smith
MF 14   Christian Soto
FW 9   Dylan Teves
FW 11   Nick Scardina
Manager:
  Jamie Clark

References

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