What Is 2013 WAC Men's Soccer Tournament

Overview

The 2013 WAC Men's Soccer Tournament marked the first-ever postseason championship for men's soccer in the Western Athletic Conference. After reinstating men's soccer as a conference sport in 2013, the WAC organized a six-team single-elimination tournament to crown its inaugural champion.

Hosted across campus sites with the final held at Seattle University, the event concluded with Seattle U claiming the title. The tournament served as both a conference championship and an automatic qualifier for the NCAA Tournament, adding significant stakes for participating programs.

• Format: The tournament featured a six-team, single-elimination bracket with seeding based on regular-season conference records.
• Dates: Matches were played from November 13 to November 16, 2013, with quarterfinals on the 13th and semifinals on the 14th.
• Location: The final was hosted at Championship Field on the campus of Seattle University in Seattle, Washington.
• Champion: Seattle University defeated Utah Valley University 2–1 in the final to win the first WAC men's soccer title.
• NCAA Bid: The winner earned the WAC’s automatic bid to the 2013 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship.

How It Works

The WAC Men's Soccer Tournament follows a structured postseason format designed to determine the conference champion and NCAA qualifier. In 2013, the format was newly implemented after the WAC reinstated men's soccer following a multi-year hiatus.

• Qualification: The top six teams in the regular-season WAC standings qualified for the tournament based on conference win percentage.
• Seeding: Teams were seeded 1 through 6, with higher seeds earning home-field advantage in the quarterfinals.
• Match Format: All games were 90-minute regulation matches, with ties broken by two 10-minute overtime periods and, if needed, penalty kicks.
• Hosting: Higher-seeded teams hosted all games, meaning the final was played at the site of the highest surviving seed.
• Eligibility: Only schools that were full WAC members and sponsored men's soccer were eligible for tournament inclusion.
• Advancement: Winners advanced through quarterfinals, semifinals, and the final, with no reseeding after each round.

Comparison at a Glance

Below is a comparison of the 2013 WAC Men's Soccer Tournament with other NCAA Division I conference tournaments of the same year:

This comparison highlights how the WAC’s tournament structure mirrored other mid-major conferences, though it differed from power conferences like the ACC in both scale and hosting approach. The 2013 WAC tournament was notable for being newly reinstated, while others had long-standing traditions. Its modest six-team field and campus-hosted games reflected the conference’s rebuilding phase in men’s soccer.

Why It Matters

The 2013 WAC Men's Soccer Tournament was a pivotal moment for the conference and its member institutions, symbolizing a revival of competitive men's soccer in the region. It provided visibility, postseason opportunities, and NCAA exposure for schools investing in the sport.

• Revival of WAC Soccer: The tournament marked the return of WAC men's soccer after a five-year absence due to conference realignment.
• Seattle U’s Rise: Seattle University’s victory solidified its status as a rising mid-major program with national ambitions.
• Utah Valley’s Debut: As a first-year program, Utah Valley reaching the final was a major achievement.
• NCAA Exposure: The WAC earned an automatic qualifier spot, increasing national visibility for its member schools.
• Recruiting Boost: Success in the tournament helped programs attract higher-caliber recruits in subsequent seasons.
• Conference Stability: The successful tournament helped stabilize the WAC’s soccer membership for future years.

The 2013 tournament laid the foundation for continued growth in WAC men's soccer, demonstrating that smaller conferences could host competitive, well-organized postseason events with real stakes.