What Is 2013 ACC Men's Soccer Tournament

Overview

The 2013 ACC Men's Soccer Tournament determined the Atlantic Coast Conference champion in men's collegiate soccer for that season. Held after the regular season concluded, the tournament featured the top eight teams from the conference based on their performance during the fall 2013 campaign.

The event culminated in a championship match on November 17, 2013, where the University of Virginia emerged victorious over Maryland. This win marked Virginia's 10th ACC tournament title, reinforcing its legacy as one of the most successful programs in conference history.

• November 10–17, 2013 were the official dates of the tournament, with early rounds hosted at campus sites and later rounds centralized.
• Eight teams qualified for the tournament, seeded according to their regular-season conference records and tiebreaker rules.
• Virginia Cavaliers entered as the No. 2 seed and advanced through the bracket to win the title, defeating No. 1 seed Clemson in the semifinals.
• The championship match was played at Mewborn Field in Gainesville, Florida, a neutral site hosted by the University of Florida.
• Virginia defeated Maryland 2–1 in the final, with goals from Niko Klosterhalfen and substitute Patrick Foss sealing the victory.

How It Works

The ACC Men's Soccer Tournament follows a single-elimination format, with seeding based on regular-season conference standings. Teams earn qualification based on their win-loss-tie records, with tiebreakers used to determine final seedings.

• Single-Elimination Format: Teams compete in knockout rounds, meaning one loss eliminates them from title contention, increasing the stakes of each match.
• Eight-Team Bracket: The top eight teams from the 14 ACC members qualify, ensuring only the most consistent performers advance to postseason play.
• Seeding Rules: Teams are seeded 1–8 based on conference record, with head-to-head results and goal differential used as tiebreakers when needed.
• Hosting Rights: Higher seeds host early-round games, but semifinals and finals are held at a predetermined neutral site, such as Mewborn Field in 2013.
• Automatic NCAA Bid: The tournament winner receives the ACC’s automatic qualification to the NCAA Men’s Soccer Championship, regardless of regular-season performance.
• Player Awards: An ACC Tournament MVP is named; in 2013, Virginia’s Joe Highsmith was recognized for his defensive leadership and midfield control.

Comparison at a Glance

Here’s how the 2013 ACC Men's Soccer Tournament compared to recent editions in terms of structure, participants, and outcomes:

The 2013 edition stood out because it was the final ACC tournament to include Maryland, which left the conference for the Big Ten in 2014. Virginia’s victory also marked a resurgence after missing the NCAA tournament the previous year, highlighting the importance of the conference title for national postseason access.

Why It Matters

The 2013 ACC Men's Soccer Tournament had lasting implications for team legacies, NCAA tournament access, and conference realignment narratives. As one of the premier collegiate soccer conferences, the ACC’s postseason event shapes national championship trajectories.

• Virginia secured an automatic NCAA bid by winning, entering the national tournament as a strong contender despite a middling regular season.
• Maryland’s runner-up finish was its last as an ACC member, marking the end of a storied rivalry era with schools like Virginia and Clemson.
• Clemson’s No. 1 seed status highlighted its dominant regular season, though its semifinal loss underscored the unpredictability of single-elimination play.
• Player development was evident, with future professionals like Virginia’s Will Bates gaining exposure on a national stage.
• The ACC maintained its reputation for competitive depth, with six teams earning NCAA bids that year, more than any other conference.
• Neutral-site finals in 2013 tested team adaptability, influencing future decisions about hosting locations for conference championships.

This tournament not only crowned a champion but also symbolized transition, as conference realignment began reshaping the collegiate soccer landscape.