The regular season is over, conference tournaments have finished, and now it's time for the big event of the season, the NCAA Division II Women's Soccer tournament. Six wins is what it will take to bring home a national championship from Kansas City, MO. Most of the regional tournament participants haven't hoisted the trophy before and hope 2026 is their time to shine.
Out of the eight teams in the regional tournament, only three have tasted the finals. Central Missouri won the D2 national title in 2017 and are the only team in the region to have won a national title. Topeka pod hosts Washburn and Mankato pod hosts Minnesota State were runners-up in 2023 and 2024 respectively. The Ichabods fell to Point Loma by a goal in 2023, while the Mavericks fell by a goal the following year to Cal Poly Pomona.
First round play across the entire region begins on Friday with the regional finals taking place on Sunday.
Mankato, MN Pod
#16 Pittsburg State (KS) vs Northern State (SD) – 10:30am
Opening the regional tournament is a battle between animals with the Gorillas of Pittsburg State facing the Northern State Wolves. Both the Gorillas and Wolves made the tournament as at-large bids following their elimination from their conference tournaments. Pittsburg State (15-5-1, W-D-L) took their only loss in the MIAA Championship match, falling 2–0 to the Washburn Ichabods. Northern State enters with an 11-4-4 record on the season and were knocked out in the NSIC Semi-Finals to eventual champion Minnesota State. The 16th ranked Gorillas will provide a huge test to the Wolves, who are making their first ever appearance in the NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Tournament.
#9 Minnesota State vs Missouri Western – 2pm
In the tournament for the 15th straight season and once again hosting their half of the regionals. Minnesota State are an easy favourite to move on from the first weekend. The Mavericks have a 17-3-1 record, with their only loss coming to Minnesota-Duluth, this season. MSU took the NSIC title after winning two straight matches in penalties to keep their unbeaten season going.
Missouri Western was a slight surprise making the field, after going 8-7-4 this season. The Griffons entered the MIAA tournament as the six seed and were dispatched 2–0 by Pittsburg State in the opening round. Last time the Griffons faced the Mavericks, MSU came away the winner on their way to the D2 national final.
Topeka, KS Pod
Central Missouri vs Mary – 12pm
Down in Kansas the first of two matches there will feature the Mary Marauders facing the Central Missouri Jennies. The Jennies (14-2-4) have a history of being a thorn in the side of various NSIC teams inside and out of the national tournament. UCM finished the regular season in second place in the MIAA, but fell to Pittsburg State in the playoff semi-finals.
For Mary this is only the second time in program history they have qualified for the dance. That last appearance came back in 2007, where they were knocked out in the first round. The Marauders first round loss came at the hands of Central Missouri, the same program the Marauders will face in their second appearance.
#5 Washburn (KS) vs Southwestern Oklahoma – 3pm
Wrapping up the first round of the regional tournament is Topeka pod hosts Washburn facing the Southwestern Oklahoma Bulldogs. SWOSU made the tournament by winning the Great American Conference and are the only team out of the GAC in the regional tournament. The Bulldogs 9-8-3 record put them in as the eight seed and a longshot to make it out of the first round.
Washburn are the overall number one seed in the region and enter with a 16-3-1 record this season. Like MSU on the other side of the bracket, Washburn won the regular season and playoff title double in the MIAA. The Ichabods are one of the most successful teams in the region and made the NCAA D2 National Finals in 2023.
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