# 1998 NCAA Division I women's soccer tournament

The 1998 NCAA Division I women's soccer tournament (also known as the 1998 NCAA Women's College Cup) was the 17th annual single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of NCAA Division I women's collegiate soccer. The semifinals and championship game were played again at the UNCG Soccer Stadium in Greensboro, North Carolina during December 1998.
Florida defeated North Carolina in the final, 1–0, to win their first national title. Coached by Becky Burleigh, the Gators finished the season 26–1. Florida won the championship in just their first appearance in the College Cup, a feat matched only by USC in 2007.
The Gators' roster won the tournament's awards for both most outstanding offensive player and most outstanding defensive player, awarded to Danielle Fotopoulos and Meredith Flaherty, respectively. Fotopoulos and Flaherty, along with ten other players, were named to the All-tournament team.
The tournament's leading scorer, with 3 goals, was Meredith Florance from North Carolina.

## Qualification

All Division I women's soccer programs were eligible to qualify for the tournament. The tournament field expanded again, this time increasing from 32 teams to 48.

### Format

To accommodate the sixteen additional teams, an additional round was added to the tournament for the thirty-two lowest-seeded teams. The top sixteen teams, meanwhile, were given a bye into the Second Round.

### Teams

North Carolina Regional :
| School | Conference | Berth Type | Record |
| Charlotte | Conference USA | Automatic | 14–5–3 |
| Dartmouth | Ivy League | Automatic | 14–1–2 |
| Fairfield | MAAC | Automatic | 18–1 |
| Georgia | SEC | At-large | 13–5 |
| Maryland | ACC | At-large | 10–10–1 |
| North Carolina | ACC | Automatic | 21–0 |
| South Carolina | SEC | At-large | 11–6–1 |
| UCF | Trans America | Automatic | 12–7 |
| Virginia | ACC | At-large | 13–6–2 |
| Wake Forest | ACC | At-large | 13–6–1 |
| William & Mary | CAA | Automatic | 16–2–2 |
| Wisconsin | Big Ten | At-large | 10–7–2 |
Portland Regional :
| School | Conference | Berth Type | Record |
| Alabama | SEC | At-large | 13–6–1 |
| Kentucky | SEC | At-large | 09–8–3 |
| Michigan | Big Ten | At-large | 13–6–1 |
| Minnesota | Big Ten | At-large | 13–5–1 |
| Nebraska | Big 12 | Automatic | 16–3–1 |
| Notre Dame | Big East | Automatic | 19–2–1 |
| Portland | West Coast | At-large | 16–2–2 |
| San Diego State | WAC | Automatic | 18–2–1 |
| Texas A&M | Big 12 | At-large | 13–7 |
| USC | Pac-10 | Auto (shared) | 13–6–1 |
| Washington | Pac-10 | At-large | 10–8–1 |
| Xavier | Atlantic 10 | Automatic | 12–6–2 |
Santa Clara Regional :
| School | Conference | Berth Type | Record |
| BYU | WAC | At-large | 19–3 |
| California | Pac-10 | Auto (shared) | 13–7 |
| Central Conn. State | Northeast | Automatic | 12–7 |
| Colgate | Patriot | Automatic | 13–6 |
| Connecticut | Big East | At-large | 19–1–2 |
| Hartford | America East | Automatic | 16–4 |
| Harvard | Ivy League | At-large | 11–4–1 |
| Pacific | Big West | Automatic | 14–2–3 |
| Santa Clara | West Coast | Automatic | 19–0–1 |
| Stanford | Pac-10 | At-large | 11–6–2 |
| Syracuse | Big East | At-large | 13–6–1 |
| UCLA | Pac-10 | Auto (shared) | 17–3–1 |
Florida Regional :
| School | Conference | Berth Type | Record |
| Baylor | Big 12 | At-large | 15–4–1 |
| Clemson | ACC | At-large | 15–6 |
| Evansville | Missouri Valley | Automatic | 14–5–2 |
| Florida | SEC | Automatic | 21–1 |
| Indiana | Big Ten | At-large | 13–7–1 |
| James Madison | CAA | At-large | 12–7–1 |
| Northwestern | Big Ten | At-large | 14–4–1 |
| Penn State | Big Ten | Automatic | 19–3–1 |
| Radford | Big South | Automatic | 11–7–2 |
| UNC Greensboro | Southern | Automatic | 13–8–1 |
| Vanderbilt | SEC | At-large | 16–5 |
| Wright State | Midwestern Collegiate | Automatic | 08–10–2 |

## Bracket

| First round | First round | First round | Second round | Second round | Second round | Third Round | Third Round | Third Round | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals (Women's College Cup) UNCG Soccer Stadium Greensboro, North Carolina | Semifinals (Women's College Cup) UNCG Soccer Stadium Greensboro, North Carolina | Semifinals (Women's College Cup) UNCG Soccer Stadium Greensboro, North Carolina | Championship (Women's College Cup) UNCG Soccer Stadium Greensboro, North Carolina | Championship (Women's College Cup) UNCG Soccer Stadium Greensboro, North Carolina | Championship (Women's College Cup) UNCG Soccer Stadium Greensboro, North Carolina |
| | | | North Carolina | North Carolina | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Charlotte | Charlotte | 2 | Charlotte | Charlotte | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Charlotte | Charlotte | 2 | Charlotte | Charlotte | 0 | North Carolina | North Carolina | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| South Carolina | South Carolina | 0 | | | | North Carolina | North Carolina | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| South Carolina | South Carolina | 0 | | | | William & Mary | William & Mary | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | William & Mary | William & Mary | 2 | William & Mary | William & Mary | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| Maryland | Maryland | 4 | Maryland | Maryland | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Maryland | Maryland | 4 | Maryland | Maryland | 0 | | | | North Carolina | North Carolina | 3 | | | | | |
| Fairfield | Fairfield | 3 | | | | | | | North Carolina | North Carolina | 3 | | | | | |
| Fairfield | Fairfield | 3 | | | | | | | Dartmouth | Dartmouth | 0 | | | | | |
| | | | Virginia | Virginia | 2 | | | | Dartmouth | Dartmouth | 0 | | | | | |
| Georgia | Georgia | 5 | Georgia (3–1 PK) | Georgia (3–1 PK) | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Georgia | Georgia | 5 | Georgia (3–1 PK) | Georgia (3–1 PK) | 2 | Georgia | Georgia | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| Wake Forest | Wake Forest | 2 | | | | Georgia | Georgia | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| Wake Forest | Wake Forest | 2 | | | | Dartmouth | Dartmouth | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Dartmouth | Dartmouth | 1 | Dartmouth | Dartmouth | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| Wisconsin | Wisconsin | 2 | Wisconsin | Wisconsin | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Wisconsin | Wisconsin | 2 | Wisconsin | Wisconsin | 0 | | | | | | | North Carolina (4OT) | North Carolina (4OT) | 1 | | |
| Central Florida | Central Florida | 0 | | | | | | | | | | North Carolina (4OT) | North Carolina (4OT) | 1 | | |
| Central Florida | Central Florida | 0 | | | | | | | | | | Portland | Portland | 0 | | |
| | | | Portland | Portland | 3 | | | | | | | Portland | Portland | 0 | | |
| Minnesota | Minnesota | 6 | Minnesota | Minnesota | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Minnesota | Minnesota | 6 | Minnesota | Minnesota | 0 | Portland | Portland | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| Kentucky | Kentucky | 0 | | | | Portland | Portland | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| Kentucky | Kentucky | 0 | | | | San Diego State | San Diego State | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | San Diego State (3OT) | San Diego State (3OT) | 1 | San Diego State | San Diego State | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| USC (2OT) | USC (2OT) | 2 | USC | USC | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| USC (2OT) | USC (2OT) | 2 | USC | USC | 0 | | | | Portland | Portland | 2 | | | | | |
| Washington | Washington | 1 | | | | | | | Portland | Portland | 2 | | | | | |
| Washington | Washington | 1 | | | | | | | Notre Dame | Notre Dame | 1 | | | | | |
| | | | Nebraska | Nebraska | 7 | | | | Notre Dame | Notre Dame | 1 | | | | | |
| Texas A&M | Texas A&M | 3 | Texas A&M | Texas A&M | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Texas A&M | Texas A&M | 3 | Texas A&M | Texas A&M | 0 | Nebraska | Nebraska | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| Alabama | Alabama | 1 | | | | Nebraska | Nebraska | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| Alabama | Alabama | 1 | | | | Notre Dame | Notre Dame | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Notre Dame | Notre Dame | 3 | Notre Dame | Notre Dame | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| Michigan | Michigan | 4 | Michigan | Michigan | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Michigan | Michigan | 4 | Michigan | Michigan | 0 | | | | | | | | | | North Carolina | North Carolina | 0 |
| Xavier | Xavier | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | North Carolina | North Carolina | 0 |
| Xavier | Xavier | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | Florida | Florida | 1 |
| | | | Santa Clara | Santa Clara | 5 | | | | | | | | | | Florida | Florida | 1 |
| Pacific | Pacific | 2 | Pacific | Pacific | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Pacific | Pacific | 2 | Pacific | Pacific | 0 | Santa Clara | Santa Clara | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| California | California | 1 | | | | Santa Clara | Santa Clara | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| California | California | 1 | | | | BYU | BYU | 0 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | UCLA | UCLA | 0 | BYU | BYU | 0 | | | | | | | | | |
| BYU | BYU | 6 | BYU | BYU | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| BYU | BYU | 6 | BYU | BYU | 2 | | | | Santa Clara | Santa Clara | 1 | | | | | | |
| Stanford | Stanford | 1 | | | | | | | Santa Clara | Santa Clara | 1 | | | | | | |
| Stanford | Stanford | 1 | | | | | | | Connecticut | Connecticut | 0 | | | | | | |
| | | | Hartford | Hartford | 3 | | | | Connecticut | Connecticut | 0 | | | | | | |
| Harvard | Harvard | 4 | Harvard | Harvard | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Harvard | Harvard | 4 | Harvard | Harvard | 0 | Hartford | Hartford | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| C. Connecticut State | C. Connecticut State | 1 | | | | Hartford | Hartford | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| C. Connecticut State | C. Connecticut State | 1 | | | | Connecticut | Connecticut | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Connecticut | Connecticut | 2 | Connecticut | Connecticut | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| Syracuse | Syracuse | 4 | Syracuse | Syracuse | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Syracuse | Syracuse | 4 | Syracuse | Syracuse | 1 | | | | | | | Santa Clara | Santa Clara | 0 | | | |
| Colgate | Colgate | 1 | | | | | | | | | | Santa Clara | Santa Clara | 0 | | | |
| Colgate | Colgate | 1 | | | | | | | | | | Florida | Florida | 1 | | | |
| | | | Penn State | Penn State | 2 | | | | | | | Florida | Florida | 1 | | | |
| Indiana | Indiana | 3 | Indiana | Indiana | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Indiana | Indiana | 3 | Indiana | Indiana | 1 | Penn State | Penn State | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| Wright State | Wright State | 1 | | | | Penn State | Penn State | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| Wright State | Wright State | 1 | | | | Clemson | Clemson | 0 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Clemson | Clemson | 2 | Clemson | Clemson | 0 | | | | | | | | | |
| Vanderbilt | Vanderbilt | 5 | Vanderbilt | Vanderbilt | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Vanderbilt | Vanderbilt | 5 | Vanderbilt | Vanderbilt | 0 | | | | Penn State | Penn State | 1 | | | | | | |
| UNC Greensboro | UNC Greensboro | 1 | | | | | | | Penn State | Penn State | 1 | | | | | | |
| UNC Greensboro | UNC Greensboro | 1 | | | | | | | Florida | Florida | 3 | | | | | | |
| | | | Baylor | Baylor | 4 | | | | Florida | Florida | 3 | | | | | | |
| Northwestern (2OT) | Northwestern (2OT) | 2 | Northwestern | Northwestern | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Northwestern (2OT) | Northwestern (2OT) | 2 | Northwestern | Northwestern | 5 | Northwestern | Northwestern | 0 | | | | | | | | | |
| Evansville | Evansville | 1 | | | | Northwestern | Northwestern | 0 | | | | | | | | | |
| Evansville | Evansville | 1 | | | | Florida | Florida | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Florida | Florida | 5 | Florida | Florida | 1 | | | | | | | | | |
| James Madison | James Madison | 4 | James Madison | James Madison | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Radford | Radford | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

## All-tournament team

* Keisha Bell, Florida
* Lorrie Fair, North Carolina
* Meredith Flaherty, Florida (most outstanding defensive player)
* Meredith Florance, North Carolina
* Michelle French, Portland
* Danielle Fotopoulos, Florida (most outstanding offensive player)
* Angela Harrison, Portland
* Heather Mitts, Florida
* Cindy Parlow, North Carolina
* Tiffany Roberts, North Carolina
* Laurie Schwoy, North Carolina
* Nikki Serlenga, Santa Clara