PENSACOLA, Fla. - The 42nd annual NAIA Women's Soccer National Championship kicks off in Pensacola, Fla., at Ashton Brosnaham Soccer Complex on December 1st with four of the eight Round of 16 matches. Playing soccer in December is an achievement on its own, but the teams traveling to the beach are looking for something more than that: they have their eyes set on the coveted Red Banner and 2025 championship trophy.

The schedule for the Round of 16 matches is now set, featuring kickoff times, live statistics, and video links on the final site schedule page. Are you looking for the bracket? We have you covered there as well with the championship bracket, which will be updated after the conclusion of each game till a champion is crowned on December 8th. The 2025 women's soccer championship program is also available online with rosters, championship history, and more.

Tickets are on sale now to purchase and watch your favorite team live from Pensacola through the host Pensacola Sports. Can't make the trip? We have you covered with all 15 matches at the final site being broadcast for free on the Urban Edge Network. On-demand broadcasts are also available for free on the NAIA Network. Never miss a minute of the action from Pensacola, you can catch every goal, save, upset, and win on any smart device from around the world with the NAIA Network and Urban Edge Network apps available for download in the App Store and Google Play Store.

For a team to claim the red banner and be crowned a women's soccer national champion, they must win four games over eight days, four of which are game days. The Round of 16 will be on December 1 and 2. The Quarterfinals will be played on December 4, the Semifinals on December 6th, and the national championship game will kick off at noon CT on December 8. It's a win-or-go-home scenario for these teams, where every shot, save, and set piece could mean the difference between extending their stay or heading home. We noted the combined record of the 40-team field at 550-117-92, a winning percentage of 78.6%. The combined winning percentage of the 16 remaining teams is 85.2%, with a combined record of 259-31-34. It was a battle for these 16 teams to punch a ticket, and the climb to the top of NAIA Women's Soccer didn't get any easier.

The higher-seeded team in each match will be considered the home team for the game. For the Round of 16, your designated home teams include: Marian (Ind.), Oklahoma Wesleyan, College of Idaho, John Brown (Ark.), William Carey (Miss.), Grace (Ind.), Indiana Wesleyan, and Missouri Valley.

Four of the 16 teams traveling to Pensacola are very familiar with each other, as they are from the Crossroads League. We will see two of those teams go head-to-head to open play on Monday, December 1, at 10 a.m. CT, with Marian and Taylor (Ind.). The other two Crossroads teams in the bracket, however, would both need to extend their stay in the Emerald Coast until December 6 to take the field together with Grace (Ind.) and Indiana Wesleyan, who are on opposite halves of the bracket. The Heart of America, Southern States, and Mid-South Conferences are represented at the beach as well, with two teams apiece. The Cascade, Sooner, Appalachian, Great Southwest, Sun, and KCAC conferences will all have one team in the panhandle in search of that Red Banner.

Let's look at the matchups in the round of 16.

	Marian (Ind.) vs. Taylor (Ind.)
December 1 | 10 a.m.  CT

Here comes a heavyweight Crossroads League showdown! The No. 1 overall seed Marian Knights, riding a dominant season, take on the 16th-seeded Taylor Trojans, their very own conference rivals. Marian claimed the top seed for the first time in program history as the NAIA’s No. 1 overall entrant. 

These two teams already know each other well — in their October meeting, Marian controlled possession and peppered the Taylor goal, but couldn’t break through, and the game ended in a stubborn 0–0 draw.

This first-round clash promises to be a chess match: Marian will try to leverage its attacking depth and season-long form, while Taylor will lean on its proven defensive grit to pull off the upset.

	Oklahoma Wesleyan vs. MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.)
December 1 | 1 p.m.  CT

Here’s a tense Heart of America vs. KCAC clash: MidAmerica Nazarene Pioneers, a strong side from the Heart of America Conference, take on the 8th-seeded Oklahoma Wesleyan Eagles, fresh off an even stronger run to close out the regular season. OKWU has been riding high.

MidAmerica Nazarene brings an aggressive offense (they averaged about 2.56 goals per game this season). They're used to controlling play and creating chances. On the other side, OKWU knows how to close things down — they beat MNU 2–0 earlier this season, with Laura Gieseler and Ana Chavez finding the net.

What makes this one really fun: The history isn't one-sided — OKWU has won recent meetings, but MNU won't back down easily. This is likely a tactical battle, with MNU pushing forward and OKWU looking to pounce on counterattacks and set-plays. The winner probably does it by staying disciplined and taking their chances.

	College of Idaho vs Cumberlands (Ky.)
December 1 | 4 p.m.  CT

A top-tier offense meets a battle-tested defense as the No. 4-seeded College of Idaho takes on the 13th-seeded Cumberlands. The Yotes have been one of the most explosive attacking teams in the NAIA this season, piling up goals behind a deep front line and a back-four that’s allowed very little all year.

Cumberlands arrives with plenty of momentum of its own — the Patriots are organized, disciplined, and dangerous in transition, with multiple scoring threats capable of flipping a match in a single moment. This one sets up as a strength-on-strength matchup, where Idaho’s constant pressure meets a Cumberlands side fully equipped to counter. A spot in the Quarterfinals will likely come down to who controls the midfield and wins the big moments.

	John Brown (Ark..) vs. Life (Ga.)
December 1 | 7 p.m.  CT

Fifth-seeded John Brown Golden Eagles bring an electric offense — averaging roughly 3.84 goals per game while holding opponents to under 1 per game. Senior Aubrey Winter has been a postseason difference-maker, most recently closing the door on Hastings (Neb.) with a hat trick and an assist.

On the other side, the 12-seeded Life University Running Eagles are battle-hardened and efficient. They came into the Round of 16 with an 18-2-1 record. Life leaned on forward Sacha Millward, who scored the opener in their second-round win over Tennessee Wesleyan, and Helen Gutierrez, who added the second goal to seal the deal.

This matchup promises to be a clash of contrasting identities: JBU’s explosive firepower vs. Life’s methodical composure. If the Golden Eagles can keep up their attacking threat, they’ll test Life’s defensive — but Life knows how to stay compact, strike in moments, and doesn’t shy away from high-stakes games.

	Grace (Ind.) vs. Truett McConnell (Ga.)
December 2 | 10 a.m.  CT

Seventh-seeded Grace rolls into the round of 16 riding a sharp, confident performance — the Lancers have been another one of the most cohesive attacking units in the field this season, moving the ball with pace and carving out high-quality chances through their possession-driven style. They showed that rhythm in their second-round win, dictating tempo and keeping their back line largely untested.

Tenth-seeded Truett McConnell brings credibility to this matchup. The Lady Bears went undefeated in AAC play and pride themselves on a defensive structure that’s tough to break down. They’re organized, physical in key moments, and thrive on counterattacks that can flip a game quickly. This one pairs Grace’s fluid, high-tempo buildup against TMU’s disciplined resilience — a classic matchup of pressure versus patience where one breakthrough could define the morning.

	William Carey (Miss.) vs. Embry-Riddle (Ariz.)
December 2 | 1 p.m.  CT

Second-seeded William Carey Crusaders come in as a powerhouse — they wrapped up a 19–1 regular season. Carey’s attack is lightning-fast on the wings, backed by steady finishing, while their defense is rock solid, particularly when the pressure's on.

On the other side, 15th-seeded Embry-Riddle Eagles are no underdogs — they’ve gone 17–0–3 this season and are dangerous going forward. Their offense can explode (they scored 12 in a match earlier this year), and they’ve shown they can control games with smart possession and clinical finishing.

This matchup feels like a high-stakes contrast: Carey’s disciplined, balanced dominance vs. Embry-Riddle’s high-octane flair. If Carey keeps their shape and limits turnovers, they’ll be in good shape — but ERAU has enough firepower to turn this into a shootout fast.

	Indiana Wesleyan vs. Keiser (Fla.)
December 2 | 4 p.m.  CT

Third-seeded Indiana Wesleyan Wildcats arrive in Pensacola looking to make noise — they wrapped up a solid regular season (14-5-2) and carried momentum from a strong Crossroads League campaign. Their backline and goalkeeper have often kept them in tight games, and when Avery Williams or Katelyn VanderArk gets involved, they can strike quickly.

Meanwhile, the 14th-seeded Keiser Seahawks are no strangers at the final site. With multiple returning All-Americans and leaning into their deep, dynamic attack. Keiser knows how to control tempo and create in transition, and their ability to finish chances has carried them through tough matches.

This is a showdown of balance vs. brilliance: Indiana Wesleyan will try to impose structure and stifle Keiser’s rhythm, while Keiser will look to unlock the Wildcats with creative movement and quick combinations. Whoever wins this one will likely need a clean sheet or to capitalize on their few, but sharp, chances.

	Missouri Valley vs. Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)
December 2 | 7 p.m.  CT

Sixth-seeded Missouri Valley College Vikings are riding high after an undefeated regular season in the Heart of America Conference, anchored by defensive anchor Marta Carrasco Mesa, who earned both Heart Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honors.

But standing in their way are the Lindsey Wilson Blue Raiders. Lindsey Wilson leads all teams still in the tournament with four Red Banners raised. They’re battle-tested and experienced in big moments, and they know how to perform when it matters.

This matchup promises to be a clash of power and pedigree: Missouri Valley’s rock-solid defense and physical play vs. Lindsey Wilson’s trophy-laden history and championship mentality. Whoever makes it to the Quarterfinals will have earned it.