What Is 2022 CAA women's soccer tournament

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2022 CAA Women's Soccer Tournament was held from November 2 to November 6, 2022, with eight teams competing; Elon University won the championship by defeating Drexel 2–1 in overtime.

Key Facts

The 2022 CAA Women's Soccer Tournament took place from November 2 to November 6, 2022.
Eight teams participated in the single-elimination tournament format.
Elon University won the title by defeating Drexel 2–1 in the final after overtime.
The tournament champion received an automatic bid to the 2022 NCAA Women's Soccer Championship.
Games were hosted at campus sites, with higher seeds hosting each round.

Overview

The 2022 CAA Women's Soccer Tournament was the annual postseason competition for the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA), featuring the top eight teams from the conference's regular season standings. Held from November 2 to November 6, the single-elimination format determined which team would earn the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship.

Elon University emerged as champions after defeating Drexel 2–1 in a dramatic overtime final, securing their first CAA title since joining the conference. The tournament highlighted strong defensive performances and tight scoring margins, with five of the seven matches decided by one goal.

Eight teams qualified for the tournament based on their regular-season conference records, with seeding determined by win percentage.
The tournament began on November 2, 2022, with four first-round matches hosted by the higher-seeded teams at their home campuses.
Elon entered the tournament as the second seed after finishing with a 6–3–1 conference record during the regular season.
Drexel advanced as the top seed and hosted the semifinals and final at their home field, Truist Stadium, due to their best conference record.
The championship match concluded on November 6, 2022, when Elon scored in the 96th minute to clinch a 2–1 victory.

How It Works

The CAA Women's Soccer Tournament follows a structured, single-elimination format designed to crown a conference champion and award an NCAA automatic qualifier spot.

Qualification: The top eight teams in the CAA regular-season standings qualify, based on points earned from wins (3) and draws (1).
Seeding: Teams are seeded 1 through 8 using conference win percentage, with tiebreakers including head-to-head results and goal differential.
Hosting Rights: Higher seeds host all rounds, giving them home-field advantage and reducing travel demands during the weeklong event.
Match Format: All games are 90 minutes long; if tied, they proceed to two 10-minute overtime periods, then a penalty shootout if needed.
NCAA Bid: The winner receives the CAA's automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championship, which began on November 11, 2022.
Player Eligibility: Only student-athletes enrolled during the fall 2022 semester and meeting NCAA academic standards were eligible to participate.

Comparison at a Glance

Here's how the 2022 CAA Women's Soccer Tournament compared to recent editions in key structural and competitive aspects:

Year	Champion	Runner-Up	Final Score	Host Location
2022	Elon University	Drexel	2–1 (OT)	Philadelphia, PA
2021	Northeastern	Delaware	1–0	Northeastern, MA
2020	James Madison	Elon	2–1	Harrisonburg, VA
2019	James Madison	William & Mary	1–0	Williamsburg, VA
2018	William & Mary	UNC Wilmington	2–0	Williamsburg, VA

The 2022 edition stood out due to the overtime final and Elon's breakthrough win after several near-misses in prior years. Unlike previous tournaments, no team from the bottom half of the seeding advanced past the quarterfinals, indicating a strong correlation between regular-season performance and postseason success.

Why It Matters

The 2022 CAA Women's Soccer Tournament had significant implications for teams, players, and the conference’s national profile, especially in terms of NCAA tournament representation and athlete development.

Elon’s championship marked their first CAA title, validating years of program investment and coaching consistency under head coach Damon Nahid.
The tournament provided exposure for student-athletes, with several players scouted by professional leagues and national team programs.
Winning the automatic bid allowed Elon to compete in the 2022 NCAA Women's Soccer Championship, expanding their national visibility.
Hosting rights incentivized strong regular-season performances, boosting campus engagement and attendance at home games.
The event highlighted the growing competitiveness of the CAA, with five different champions over the past five completed tournaments.
It also underscored the importance of overtime resilience, as three of the seven matches in 2022 required extra time to decide a winner.

Ultimately, the 2022 CAA Women's Soccer Tournament reinforced the value of conference play in shaping national collegiate soccer narratives and provided a platform for emerging talent to shine on a competitive stage.