# Southeast Collegiate Soccer Alliance

The Southeast Collegiate Soccer Alliance (SCSA), also referred to as NIRSA Region II, is a NIRSA-affiliated, structured, divisional play for men's and women's collegiate club soccer programs in the US which seek to qualify for the Region 2 Soccer Tournament which is a qualifier for the NIRSA National Soccer Championships. Region 2 Soccer consists of non-varsity club teams representing accredited colleges and universities from the following states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. While NIRSA has had an official region 2 for soccer since 1995, the current SCSA wasn't created until 2010.

## History

Initially developed to help NIRSA determine the best teams in the nation to send to the national tournament, NIRSA appointed regional coordinators in 1995, the year following the first national tournament. These appointed coordinators were in charge of generating rankings that NIRSA could use to select the teams most deserving of a bid.
For the first 7 years, the region II coordinators used their own ranking system from games that teams played locally. However, coordinators began finding it more and more difficult to accurately rank teams due to the growth in the number of teams. To solve this issue, NIRSA encouraged coordinators to host a regional tournament to not only gauge skill, but to also find teams that were willing, and able, to travel since collegiate clubs generally receive little, to no, funding from the university they represent.
During this time, a separate league began in 1999 called the Southeast Collegiate Soccer League (SCSL) that was exclusively for men's club teams in NIRSA's region II area. Despite not being created by the coordinators NIRSA appointed for the region, this league was still affiliated with NIRSA. Each year, the league hosted an end of season tournament that all teams were required to attend and the winner of the tournament would receive an automatic bid to the national tournament, a system that's currently used by the SCSA. Three years after this, in the 2002 season, NIRSA's region II division began holding a tournament of their own for both men's and women's teams. The first two seasons, the tournaments were on separate weekends, but in 2004 the tournaments fell on the same weekend, forcing teams to choose which one to attend.
Following the 2004 season, in July 2005, it was announced that the league would end due to a lack of communication from participating club teams and no longer host a tournament. After the dissolution, all SCSL clubs were allowed to participate in NIRSA's Region II league and tournament. In 2010, the league was renamed from NIRSA Region II to the current Southeast Collegiate Soccer Alliance.

## Current format
### Regular season

The SCSA is currently divided into 6 divisions for women's teams and 8 divisions for the men's teams. Each team must play at least 6 games against current SCSA teams to be eligible for the end of season tournament.
To help decide who gets to attend the regional tournament, the winner of each division receives an automatic bid to the regional tournament with the remaining invitations given to wild card teams that are determined by RPI. Each team plays the same number of intra-divisional games as each team within its division. Once the regular season is concluded, divisional standings are determined on the double three-point system (six points for a win, two points for a draw, no points for a loss). Only divisional games are included in the tiebreaking criteria.
* Tie-breaking criteria for divisional ranking
* The ranking of teams in each group are based on the following criteria in order:
* Highest number of points
* Winner of head-to-head competition
* Greatest goal difference
* Maximum ± 5 goal difference per match
* Most goals scored
* Most shutouts
* Coin flip
* In a tie breaking scenario involving more than 2 teams, the tiebreaker procedure would begin. If one team is identified as different and both remaining teams are still tied, the tie breaker procedure is restarted.
While only intra-divisional games will be counted in the division standings, all regional games are counted in the overall record used for the League RPI ranking.

### Regional tournament

Each year, the SCSA hosts, what they call, the Region II Regional Tournament consisting of 12 women's teams and 16 men's teams. The tournament is two stage beginning with a round-robin group stage followed by a single-elimination knockout stage
For the men's division group stage, the 16 teams are split into four groups of four teams each. Each team plays every other team in their group meaning a total of 6 games are played within a group. The top two teams from each group advance to the round of 8.
For the women's division group stage, the 12 teams are split into four groups of four teams each. Each team plays every other team in their group meaning a total of 3 games are played within a group. The top two teams from each group advance to the round of 8.
To determine group standings, the three-point system (three points for a win, one point for a draw, no points for a loss) is used.
* Tie-breaking criteria for group play
* The ranking of teams in each group are based on the following criteria in order:
* Highest number of points
* Winner of head-to-head competition
* Greatest goal difference
* Maximum ± 5 goal difference per match
* Most goals scored
* Most shutouts
* In a tie breaking scenario involving more than 2 teams, the tiebreaker procedure would begin. If one team is identified as different and both remaining teams are still tied, the tie breaker procedure is restarted.
* If a tie still remained after the first 5 criteria, the following is used to break a tie:
* NCAA kicks from the mark
* If there was a three-way tie, a coin-flip would be conducted. The two teams that chose the same outcome would compete in kicks from the mark between each other. The winner would compete with the last remaining team in kicks from the mark
* If there's a four-way tie, a drawing of lots would be conducted (only could occur in open division)
The knockout stage is a single-elimination tournament, in which each team plays in a one-off match. In the event of a tie, one 15-minute, sudden-victory overtime period begins. If still tied, a penalty shootout is used.
Games consist of two 35-minute halves. For pool play, round of 16, and quarterfinals halves are separated by a seven-minute halftime while the halves for the semifinals and finals are separated by a ten-minute halftime.

## Champions
### Men's
#### SCSL (1994–2002)

The first 4 years that the region existed, the region itself relied on rankings and an outside, pre-existing league, the Southeast Collegiate Soccer Alliance (SCSL), to help determine national tournament bids. The SCSL typically hosted two tournaments: the "Final Four", consisting of the top two teams from the east and west divisions, and a 16-team invitational tournament the following week. The "Final Four" became the main qualifier for the league but notably, no men's team in region II attended NIRSA's national tournament until 1996 with teams generally participating in the NCSA tournament or opting out entirely.
SCSL Tournaments :
| Season | Champions | Score | Runners-up | Location |
| 1994 | MTSU | 2–2 (a.e.t.) (4–2 (p)) | Alabama | Meridian, Mississippi |
| 1995 | MTSU (2) | 4–3 (a.e.t.) | Tennessee | Meridian, Mississippi |
| 1996 | Mississippi State or Georgia Tech | | Mississippi State or Georgia Tech | Meridian, Mississippi |
| 1997 | | | | |
| 1998 | | | | |
| 1999 | Mississippi State | 5–0 | Alabama | Selma, Alabama |
| 2000 | Mississippi State (2) | 1–0 | Alabama | Tupelo, Mississippi |
| 2001 | Auburn | 2–0 | Mississippi State | Charlottesville, Virginia |
* 1 2 3 Score and champion unknown

#### SCSL and Region II (2002–2004)

Beginning in 2002 for both the men's and women's division, the region II coordinators decided to host an end of season tournament where the regional tournament winner received an automatic bid to the national tournament. The first two years, the tournaments were hosted on different weekends, meaning teams could compete in both but in 2004, the tournaments were on the same weekend, forcing teams to choose which tournament to participate in.
Regional Tournaments :
| Season | League | Champions | Score | Runners-up | Location |
| 2002 | SCSL | Vanderbilt | 3–1 | Mississippi State | Tupelo, Mississippi |
| 2002 | Region II | Virginia | 4–0 | Florida | Columbus, Georgia |
| 2003 | SCSL | Auburn (2) | 3–0 | Mississippi State | Tupelo, Mississippi |
| 2003 | Region II | Virginia (2) | 2–1 | Wake Forest | Columbus, Georgia |
| 2004 | SCSL | Georgia Tech | 3–1 | Vanderbilt | Tupelo, Mississippi |
| 2004 | Region II | North Carolina | 4–3 | Florida | Cary, North Carolina |

#### Region II (2005–2009)

With the dissolution of the SCSL, the Region II tournament became the sole qualifier for nationals in the region
Region II Tournament :
| Season | Champions | Score | Runners-up | Location |
| 2005 | Vanderbilt (2) | 2–1 | Virginia | Tupelo, Mississippi |
| 2006 | Vanderbilt (3) | 2–1 | North Carolina | Tupelo, Mississippi |
| 2007 | Vanderbilt (4) | 6–0 | George Mason | Tuscaloosa, Alabama |
| 2008 | North Carolina (2) | 1-0 | Florida | Statesboro, Georgia |
| 2009 | Georgia | 1–0 | Florida | East Ridge, Tennessee |

#### SCSA (2010–present)

NIRSA's region II was rebranded to the current Southeast Collegiate Soccer Alliance. Teams began to get divided into divisions within the region, with each divisional winner receiving a bid to the regional tournament and the remaining participating teams selected using RPI.
SCSA Regional Tournament :
| Season | Champions | Score | Runners-up | Location |
| 2010 | Florida | 1-0 | North Carolina | Pensacola, Florida |
| 2011 | Georgia (2) | | North Carolina | Rock Hill, South Carolina |
| 2012 | Florida (2) | 0–0 (a.e.t.) (9–8 (p)) | Georgia | Rock Hill, South Carolina |
| 2013 | Virginia Tech | 0–0 (a.e.t.) (4–3 (p)) | Georgia | Winston-Salem, North Carolina |
| 2014 | Virginia Tech (2) | 2–1 | UCF | Winston-Salem, North Carolina |
| 2015 | Florida State | 1–0 | Virginia Tech | Gainesville, Florida |
| 2016 | UCF | 1–0 | North Carolina | Pensacola, Florida |
| 2017 | NC State | 2–2 (a.e.t.) (8–7 (p)) | Virginia | Greenville, North Carolina |
| 2018 | Virginia Tech (3) | 4–0 | UNC-Wilmington | Winston-Salem, North Carolina |
| 2019 | Florida State (2) | 1–1 (a.e.t.) (won on penalties) | North Carolina | Richmond, Virginia |
| 2020 | Not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic. | Not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic. | Not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic. | Not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic. |
| 2021 | North Carolina (3) | 2–1 | Appalachian State | Greenville, North Carolina |
| 2022 | North Carolina (4) | 5–1 | William & Mary | Greenville, North Carolina |
| 2023 | Virginia Tech (4) | 1–0 | North Carolina | Henrico, Virginia |
| 2024 | UCF (2) | 4-0 | Georgia Tech | Gainesville, Florida |
Notes:
* ↑ Score unknown. Assumed Georgia were champs based on this Facebook post from Florida

### Women's
#### Region II (1995–2009)

The first 7 years that the region existed, no regional tournament was used for the women. The winner of the league was crowned as the team with the best record at the end of the season according to the coordinators, similar to what other soccer leagues do in Europe.
Region II end-of season rankings :
| Season | Champions | Runners-up | Third place | Ref. |
| 1995 | Unrecorded | Unrecorded | Unrecorded | Unrecorded |
| 1996 | JMU | Southern Mississippi | North Carolina | |
| 1997 | JMU (2) | West Virginia | Clemson | |
| 1998 | JMU (3) | Virginia Tech | Clemson | |
| 1999 | JMU (4) | Virginia Tech | North Carolina | |
| 2000 | Virginia Tech | Florida State | Georgia | |
| 2001 | Georgia | Virginia Tech | JMU | |
Beginning in 2002 for both the men's and women's division, the region II coordinators decided to host an end of the season tournament due too a rapid growth in participating teams. The regional tournament winner received an automatic bid to the national tournament.
Region II Tournament :
| Season | Champions | Score | Runners-up | Location |
| 2002 | JMU (5) | 3–1 | Florida | Columbus, Georgia |
| 2003 | Florida | 2–0 | Georgia | Columbus, Georgia |
| 2004 | JMU (6) | 3–0 | Virginia | Cary, North Carolina |
| 2005 | JMU (7) | | Florida | Tupelo, Mississippi |
| 2006 | Virginia Tech (2) | | | Tupelo, Mississippi |
| 2007 | Virginia Tech (3) | 4–0 | Georgia Tech | Tuscaloosa, Alabama |
| 2008 | Virginia Tech (4) | | Duke | Statesboro, Georgia |
| 2009 | Virginia Tech (5) | | | Chattanooga, Tennessee |
Notes
* 1 2 Score unknown
* ↑ Score and team unknown

#### SCSA (2010–present)

NIRSA region II was rebranded to the current Southeast Collegiate Soccer Alliance. Teams are divided into divisions within the region, with each divisional winner receiving a bid to the regional tournament. The remaining participating teams are selected using RPI.
| Season | Champions | Score | Runners-up | Location |
| 2010 | Virginia | | Virginia Tech | Pensacola, Florida |
| 2011 | Virginia (2) | | Virginia Tech | Rock Hill, South Carolina |
| 2012 | Georgia | | Virginia Tech | Rock Hill, South Carolina |
| 2013 | North Carolina | 4–0 | Virginia Tech | Winston-Salem, North Carolina |
| 2014 | North Carolina (2) | 4–1 | NC State | Winston-Salem, North Carolina |
| 2015 | North Carolina (3) | 2–1 | Virginia Tech | Gainesville, Florida |
| 2016 | North Carolina (4) | 1–0 | NC State | Pensacola, Florida |
| 2017 | North Carolina (5) | 3–0 | Florida | Greenville, North Carolina |
| 2018 | North Carolina (6) | 1–0 | NC State | Winston-Salem, North Carolina |
| 2019 | Virginia Tech | 1–0 | Clemson | Richmond, Virginia |
| 2020 | Not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic. | Not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic. | Not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic. | Not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic. |
| 2021 | North Carolina (7) | 2–0 | Georgia Tech | Greenville, North Carolina |
| 2022 | Virginia (3) | | Florida State | Greenville, North Carolina |
| 2023 | Virginia (4) | 1–0 | South Carolina | Henrico, Virginia |
| 2024 | Georgia (2) | 4-0 | Auburn | Gainesville, Florida |
Notes
* 1 2 3 4 Score unknown

## SCSA regional tournament appearances
### Men's

Key :
| † | Regional champion |
| ‡ | National champion |
| Team | Apps | Year |
| North Carolina | 14 | 2024, 2023, 2022$^†$, 2021$^†$, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015$^‡$, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 |
| Florida | 13 | 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2019, 2018$^‡$, 2017, 2016, 2014, 2013, 2012$^†$, 2011, 2010$^†$ |
| UCF | 12 | 2024$^†$, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2019, 2018, 2016$^†$, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2010 |
| Virginia | 12 | 2023, 2022, 2021, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016$^‡$, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2010 |
| Virginia Tech | 10 | 2024, 2023$^†$, 2022, 2021, 2018$^†$, 2017, 2015, 2014$^†$, 2013$^†$, 2012 |
| Georgia Tech | 9 | 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015 |
| NC State | 8 | 2024, 2023, 2021, 2018, 2017$^†$, 2016, 2015, 2012 |
| Clemson | 8 | 2022, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2013, 2012 |
| USF | 7 | 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2019, 2013, 2012 |
| Auburn | 7 | 2024, 2022, 2019, 2016, 2014, 2013, 2012 |
| Florida State | 6 | 2024, 2023, 2019$^†$, 2016$^†$, 2015$^†$, 2014 |
| Tennessee | 6 | 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2013, 2012 |
| UNC-Wilmington | 6 | 2023, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014 |
| Georgia | 6 | 2017, 2016, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011 |
| William & Mary | 5 | 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2018 |
| Elon | 5 | 2024, 2023, 2022, 2015, 2014 |
| Alabama | 5 | 2024, 2023, 2019, 2017, 2015 |
| Kentucky | 4 | 2024, 2023, 2022, 2014 |
| App State | 4 | 2023, 2021, 2016, 2015 |
| Miami | 4 | 2022, 2021, 2017, 2016 |
| JMU | 3 | 2022, 2021, 2014 |
| NKU | 3 | 2021, 2019, 2018 |
| UT-Chattanooga | 3 | 2018, 2017, 2016 |
| Vanderbilt | 3 | 2018, 2017, 2013 |
| Georgia Southern | 3 | 2018, 2017, 2012 |
| Georgia College | 3 | 2015, 2014, 2013 |
| Wake Forest | 2 | 2024, 2022 |
| Emory | 2 | 2021, 2016 |
| FIU | 2 | 2018, 2017 |
| Ole Miss | 2 | 2018, 2017 |
| Lynn | 2 | 2016, 2015 |
| Duke | 2 | 2015, 2012 |
| Florida Gulf Coast | 2 | 2014, 2012 |
| South Carolina | 2 | 2014, 2012 |
| East Carolina | 2 | 2013, 2012 |
| Davidson | 1 | 2024 |
| Kennesaw State | 1 | 2019 |
| MTSU | 1 | 2015 |
| Eastern Kentucky | 1 | 2014 |
| Georgia State | 1 | 2013 |
| Mississippi State | 1 | 2013 |
| North Florida | 1 | 2013 |

### Women's

Key :
| † | Regional champion |
| ‡ | National champion |
| Team | Apps | Year |
| Florida | 14 | 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 |
| North Carolina | 14 | 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021$^†$, 2019, 2018$^†$, 2017$^†$, 2016$^†$, 2015$^†$, 2014$^†$, 2013$^†$, 2012, 2011, 2010 |
| Virginia | 13 | 2024, 2023$^†$, 2022$^†$, 2021, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010$^†$ |
| Virginia Tech | 12 | 2022, 2021, 2019$^†$, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 |
| Vanderbilt | 10 | 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2015, 2014, 2013 |
| NC State | 10 | 2024, 2023, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012 |
| Clemson | 10 | 2023, 2021, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012 |
| Georgia | 8 | 2024$^†$, 2023, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2013, 2012$^†$ |
| Florida State | 7 | 2024, 2022, 2021, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014 |
| East Carolina | 7 | 2022, 2021, 2018, 2017, 2015, 2014, 2012 |
| Georgia Tech | 6 | 2024, 2022, 2021, 2019, 2018, 2017 |
| UCF | 5 | 2021, 2018, 2016, 2015, 2014 |
| Tennessee | 4 | 2024, 2023, 2017, 2016 |
| Auburn | 4 | 2024, 2014, 2013, 2012 |
| South Carolina | 3 | 2024, 2023, 2022 |
| Alabama | 3 | 2023, 2022, 2011 |
| Wake Forest | 3 | 2022, 2021, 2018 |
| App State | 3 | 2015, 2014, 2013 |
| Tampa | 2 | 2024, 2023 |
| William & Mary | 2 | 2022, 2021 |
| JMU | 1 | 2019 |
| Emory | 1 | 2016 |
| NKU | 1 | 2016 |
| Coastal Carolina | 1 | 2013 |
| UNC-Wilmington | 1 | 2013 |
| Duke | 1 | 2012 |
| Georgia Southern | 1 | 2012 |
Source:

## NIRSA national champions and runners-up

Key :
* Match was won during extra time
* Match was won on a penalty shoot-out

### Men's

List of NIRSA National championships with men's Region II teams :
| Year | Champion | Score | Runner-up |
| 2005 | Colorado | 2–1 (a.e.t.) | Vanderbilt |
| 2009 | Weber State | 0–0 (a.e.t.) (3–2 p) | Florida |
| 2015 | North Carolina | 2–0 | Penn State |
| 2016 | Virginia | 3–2 | Ohio State |
| 2018 | Florida | 1–0 (a.e.t.) | North Carolina |
| 2023 | BYU | 2–0 | Virginia Tech |

### Women's

List of NIRSA National championships with women's Region II teams :
| Year | Champion | Score | Runner-up |
| 1994 | Miami (OH) | 2–0 | Florida |
| 2016 | UC Santa Barbara | 1–0 | North Carolina |
| 2021 | Penn State | 1–0 | North Carolina |

## NIRSA national championship appearances
### Men's

| School | Appearances | Appearances | Highest finish | Highest finish |
| School | Number | Most recent | Type | Year |
| North Carolina | 18 | 2023 | Champion | 2015 |
| Florida | 15 | 2023 | Champion | 2018 |
| Virginia Tech | 11 | 2023 | Runner-up | 2023 |
| Virginia | 10 | 2018 | Champion | 2016 |
| Georgia | 8 | 2013 | Sweet 16 | 2013, 2012, 2009 |
| Vanderbilt | 4 | 2007 | Runner-up | 2005 |
| JMU | 4 | 2022 | Semifinals | 1997 |
| Georgia Tech | 4 | 2023 | Quarterfinals | 2023 |
| UCF | 4 | 2021 | Quarterfinals | 2015 |
| Auburn | 4 | 2012 | Quarterfinals | 2003 |
| Mississippi State | 4 | 2006 | Quarterfinals | 2003, 2001 |
| Clemson | 4 | 2022 | Sweet 16 | 2003 |
| Florida State | 3 | 2019 | Quarterfinals | 2015 |
| NC State | 1 | 2017 | Quarterfinals | 2017 |
| William & Mary | 1 | 2022 | Consolation co-champ | 2022 |
| Appalachian State | 1 | 2021 | Consolation Quarterfinals | 2021 |
| Miami (FL) | 1 | 2001 | Quarterfinals | 2001 |
| Alabama | 1 | 2000 | 4th group stage | 2000 |
| Georgia Southern | 1 | 1998 | Semifinals | 1998 |
* ↑ Tournament cancelled before game could be played

### Women's

| School | Appearances | Appearances | Highest finish | Highest finish |
| School | Number | Most recent | Type | Year |
| North Carolina | 18 | 2023 | Runner-up | 2021, 2016 |
| Florida | 17 | 2023 | Runner-up | 1994 |
| Virginia Tech | 17 | 2021 | Semifinals | 2015, 2011 |
| Virginia | 13 | 2023 | Semifinals | 2012, 2006 |
| JMU | 11 | 2019 | Semifinals | 1997, 1996 |
| Clemson | 6 | 2019 | Semifinals | 2018 |
| Florida State | 4 | 2022 | Consolation semifinal | 2022, 2014 |
| Georgia | 3 | 2017 | Sweet 16 | 2012 |
| Vanderbilt | 2 | 2023 | Semifinials | 2023 |
| Georgia Tech | 2 | 2022 | Sweet 16 | 2021 |
| NC State | 2 | 2018 | Consolation Quarterfinals | 2018, 2014 |
| Tennessee | 2 | 1996 | 4th pool play | 1996, 1994 |
| South Carolina | 1 | 2023 | Sweet 16 | 2023 |