The 2022 NCAA Division I women's soccer season was the 41st season of NCAA championship women's college soccer.
The season began on August 18, 2022, and concluded on November 6, 2022. It culminated with the 2022 NCAA Division I women's soccer tournament, with the College Cup being held at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina.
Florida State were the defending NCAA Champions.
Changes from 2021
Rule changes In April 2022, during a meeting among the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel (PROP), several major rule changes were enacted. This included overtime, expansion of video assistant referee (VAR), and the appeals process of a suspension.
Specifically overtime was abolished during the regular season. Matches that ended in a draw during a conference or national tournament match would involve two, ten minute periods, without a golden goal. A playoff game tied after two overtime periods would still move to a penalty kick shoot-out with the winner determined by the teams alternating kicks from the penalty mark. Additionally PROP approved VAR to be used for fouls that occurred outside of the penalty area, as well as allowing a 48-hour period to appeal a red card decision.
Coaching changes
So far, there have been 55 coaching changes during the 2021–22 offseason.
ProgramOutgoing coachManner of departureDate of vacancyIncoming coachDate of appointmentReferences Air Force Larry Friend Retirement November 22, 2021 Laura Busby February 21, 2022 Albany Leigh Howard Pursue opportunity with Special Olympics January 13, 2022 Sade Ayinde February 16, 2022 Appalachian State Sarah Strickland Fired November 9, 2021 Aimee Haywood December 16, 2021 Austin Peay Naomi Kolarova Resigned October 26, 2021 Kim McGowan December 13, 2021 Baylor Paul Jobson Resigned November 16, 2021 Michelle Lenard December 11, 2021 Bellarmine Chris Tinius Resigned November 4, 2021 Paul Babba January 4, 2022 Boston University Nancy Feldman Retired April 11, 2022 Casey Brown June 3, 2022 Campbell Samar Azem Hired as head coach at Villanova December 6, 2021 Jeff Gross January 24, 2022 Charlotte John Cullen Resigned March 15, 2022 Brandi Fontaine May 19, 2022 Chicago State Cristiano Costa Fired December 1, 2021 Mario Felix March 1, 2022 Colorado College Geoff Bennett Resigned November 24, 2021 Keri Sanchez December 27, 2021 East Carolina Jason Hamilton Resigned February 10, 2022 Gary Higgins March 8, 2022 Florida Tony Amato Fired April 27, 2022 Samantha Bohon May 16, 2022 Florida State Mark Krikorian Resigned March 29, 2022 Brian Pensky April 25, 2022 Fordham Jessica Clinton Resigned November 17, 2021 Magnus Nilerud February 11, 2022 Georgia Billy Lesense Fired November 9, 2021 Keidane McAlpine November 30, 2021 Grambling State Craig Roberts Hired as head coach at Southern Illinois March 14, 2022 Justin Wagar June 27, 2022 Green Bay Jason Spain Resigned November 5, 2021 Julie Grutzner December 22, 2021 High Point Brandi Fontaine Hired as head coach at Charlotte May 19, 2022 Aaron McGuiness July 7, 2022 Holy Cross Kyle Bak Resigned March 14, 2022 Ben Graham May 3, 2022 Houston Diego Bocanegra Retired January 12, 2022 Jaime Frias February 16, 2022 Idaho State Debs Brereton Fired October 27, 2021 Dustin Downey January 3, 2022 Illinois State Brad Silvey Resigned April 25, 2022 Marisa Kresge May 23, 2022 Kentucky Ian Carry Fired October 15, 2021 Troy Fabiano November 30, 2021 Lamar Steve Holeman Hired as head coach of Texas State February 9, 2022 Nathan Kogut April 20, 2022 Lehigh Eric Lambinus Resigned January 25, 2022 Lauren Calabrese January 25, 2022 Little Rock Mark Foster Hired as head coach at UTRGV March 18, 2022 Kelly Farrell May 10, 2022 Louisiana Lance Key Hired as head coach at Hardin–Simmons January 26, 2022 Chris McBride February 24, 2022 Loyola Marymount Jenny Bindon Fired November 8, 2021 Chris Chamides December 22, 2021 Maryland Ray Leone Contract not renewed October 26, 2021 Megan Ryan Nemzer December 10, 2021 Milwaukee Troy Fabiano Hired as head coach at Kentucky November 30, 2021 Kevin Boyd February 28, 2022 Missouri State Rob Brewer Retired October 28, 2021 Kirk Nelson December 6, 2021 Monmouth Krissy Turner Hired as head coach at Penn June 24, 2022 Kylee Flynn July 7, 2022 Morehead State Warren Lipka Contract not renewed November 4, 2021 Chris Fox January 14, 2022 Mount Saint Mary's Tori Krause None provided December 2021 Melissa Sherwood January 25, 2022 Northern Illinois Julie Colhoff Fired November 23, 2021 Michael O'Neill March 14, 2022 Oral Roberts Roger Bush Resigned November 4, 2021 Austin Risenhoover December 10, 2021 Penn Casey Brown Hired as head coach at Boston University June 3, 2022 Krissy Turner June 24, 2022 Prairie View A&M Sonia Curvelo Resigned May 17, 2022 Christiane Lessa August 11, 2022 Saint Francis (PA) Ellie Davis Mutual Separation November 8, 2021 Sara Yunez January 12, 2022 Sam Houston State Tom Brown Resigned March 2, 2022 Sonia Curvelo May 17, 2022 San Jose State Lauren Hanson Resigned February 6, 2022 Tina Estrada April 8, 2022 Seton Hall Ciara Crinion Resigned June 13, 2022 Josh Osit July 11, 2022 SMU Chris Petrucelli Hired as head coach at Chicago Red Stars February 18, 2022 Nicole Nelson March 27, 2022 Southeastern Louisiana Chris McBride Hired as head coach at Louisiana February 24, 2022 Nathan Gillespie March 18, 2022 Southern Illinois Grant Williams Fired November 10, 2021 Craig Roberts March 15, 2022 Tennessee Brian Pensky Hired as head coach at Florida State April 25, 2022 Joe Kirt April 29, 2022 Texas State Kat Conner Resigned November 18, 2021 Steve Holeman February 9, 2022 Troy Nicole Waters (Interim) Interim period expired December 14, 2021 Robert Lane December 14, 2021 UCLA Amanda Cromwell Hired as head coach at Orlando Pride December 3, 2021 Margueritte Aozasa December 29, 2021 USC Keidane McAlpine Hired as head coach at Georgia November 30, 2021 Jane Alukonis January 20, 2022 USC Upstate Tyson John Contract not renewed October 28, 2021 Sharif Saber December 9, 2021 UTRGV Glad Bugariu Resigned March 2, 2022 Mark Foster March 18, 2022 Villanova Chris McLain Resigned October 29, 2021 Samar Azem December 6, 2021 Western Illinois Eric Johnson Men's head coach only February 15, 2022 Josée Primeau February 15, 2022 Western Michigan Sammy Boateng Hired as assistant coach at Michigan May 26, 2022 Lewis Robinson June 30, 2022
New programs Tarleton State University, already a new member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) on its first year of reclassification to NCAA Division I, announced on January 19, 2021, that it would add women's soccer starting this season.
Conference realignment SchoolPrevious conferenceNew conference Austin Peay OVC ASUN Belmont OVC MVC Bryant NEC America East Chicago State WAC Independent Hampton Big South CAA Hartford America East Independent James Madison CAA Sun Belt Lamar WAC Southland Lindenwood GLVC (NCAA D-II) OVC Little Rock Sun Belt OVC Loyola Chicago MVC A-10 Marshall C-USA Sun Belt Monmouth MAAC CAA Mount St. Mary's NEC MAAC Murray State OVC MVC Old Dominion C-USA Sun Belt Queens SAC (NCAA D-II) ASUN Southern Indiana GLVC (NCAA D-II) OVC Southern Miss C-USA Sun Belt Southern Utah Big Sky WAC Stonehill NE-10 (NCAA D-II) NEC Stony Brook America East CAA Texas A&M–Commerce LSC (NCAA D-II) Southland UIC Horizon MVC
Other headlines August 12 – The Indiana University and Purdue University systems announced that Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis will be dissolved in 2024 and replaced by separate IU- and Purdue-affiliated institutions. The current athletic program, the IUPUI Jaguars, will transfer to the new IU Indianapolis. August 31 – The Division I Board of Directors adopted a series of changes to transfer rules. Transfer windows were adopted for all Division I sports. Student-athletes who wish to be immediately eligible at their next school must enter the NCAA transfer portal within the designated period(s) for their sport. For women's soccer, two windows were established—a 45-day winter window starting the day after the NCAA tournament selections are announced, and a spring window from May 1–15. Student-athletes who experience head coaching changes, or those whose athletic aid is reduced, canceled, or not renewed, may transfer outside designated windows without penalty. Transferring student-athletes will be guaranteed their financial aid at their next school through graduation. September 21 – Houston Baptist University announced it had changed its name to Houston Christian University, effective immediately. The athletic nickname of Huskies was not affected. October 14 – Conference USA announced that ASUN Conference member Kennesaw State would join C-USA in 2024.
Season outlook
Preseason polls
United Soccer CoachesRankTeam 1 Florida State 2 Duke 3 4 Virginia 5 6 7 8 9 10 North Carolina 11 12 13 14 15 16 Notre Dame 17 18 19 20 Washington State 21 22 23 24 25 Clemson Top Drawer SoccerRankTeam 1 Florida State 2 Virginia 3 4 5 Duke 6 7 8 North Carolina 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Clemson 16 Notre Dame 17 18 19 Washington State 20 21 22 23 NC State 24 25
Regular season Major upsets In this list, a "major upset" is defined as a game won by a team ranked 10 or more spots lower or an unranked team that defeats a team ranked No. 15 or higher.
All rankings are from the United Soccer Coaches Poll.
Date Winner Score Loser August 18 Saint Louis 1–0 No. 8 Arkansas Purdue 3–0 No. 15 USC August 21 UC Davis 1–0 No. 5 Santa Clara Butler 1–0 No. 9 Michigan September 1 USC 3–0 No. 6т TCU Alabama 3–2 No. 6т BYU September 8 Northwestern 1–0 No. 6т Stanford September 10 Utah Valley 4–2 No. 13 BYU September 15 No. 24 Clemson 2–0 No. 6 Notre Dame September 16 Mississippi State 2–0 No. 14 Arkansas September 22 No. 17 Penn State 2–0 No. 4 Rutgers No. 18 Notre Dame 1–0 No. 2 Virginia Wake Forest 4–1 No. 14 Clemson September 23 Oregon 2–0 No. 15 Washington September 25 No. 20 Arkansas 1–0 No. 8 South Carolina September 29 Michigan State 2–1 No. 6 Penn State September 30 Tennessee 1–0 No. 13 Ole Miss October 1 Virginia Tech 2–1 No. 3 North Carolina October 2 Ohio State 3–0 No. 6 Penn State October 6 Arizona 1–0 No. 8 USC October 9 No. 17 Notre Dame 4–0 No. 3 Florida State October 15 BYU 4–1 No. 14 Portland October 20 Iowa 2–1 No. 13 Northwestern Michigan 3–2 No. 14 Rutgers Oklahoma 2–1 No. 12 TCU November 6 No. 21 Penn State 3–2 No. 6 Michigan State November 12 Memphis 1–0 No. 10 Saint Louis UC Irvine 2–0 No. 14 USC
Conference standings
Conference winners and tournaments