The Top D1 Women’s College Soccer Programs
There are over 300 NCAA Division I women’s college soccer programs across the country. It’s a great accomplishment to receive a college athletic scholarship and play Division I soccer. There are several conferences and teams that all compete with the same goal to be named NCAA Champions.
Although there have been several underdogs that have worked their way to the NCAA tournament and even the College Cup, the top D1 women’s soccer programs are the ones to always keep an eye on. With the number of Division I programs in the country, here are several universities that consistently remain at the top of the standings.
University of North Carolina
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a prestigious school both academically and in soccer. It boasts alumni such as Crystal Dunn, Tobin Heath, Mia Hamm, and many more who have played professionally in World Cups and Olympic Games.
The Tar Heels are heading into ACC play with an undefeated record of 7-0. Additionally, they are a powerhouse squad of top-notch athletes, quality technical players, and overall, some of the best soccer players in the nation. UNC has won 23 out of 27 ACC championships and 21 out of 38 NCAA National championships.
The university creates professional athletes, as they have had several NWSL first-round draft picks. Recently, Emily Fox was the number one overall pick in the 2021 NWSL College Draft. The squad is led by Anson Dorrance, one of the best coaches in the college world. He continues to build his program with star players and top-of-the-table standings in the NCAA.
Florida State University
Florida State is definitely one of the top D1 women’s college soccer programs in the country. The Seminoles compete in the ACC, and they have advanced to twenty-one NCAA tournaments, including 11 College Cup appearances.
Additionally, they have advanced to the finals five times, winning two NCAA championships. In 2020 Florida State ended their season as undefeated regular season champions and were runner-ups in the College Cup. Long-time head coach, Mark Krikorian, has created a winning culture and a women’s soccer program that young girls dream of playing for.
Stanford University
Stanford University is another stellar university that always finds itself in the high ranks of the NCAA. The Pac-12 team has nine Pac-12 titles, nine College Cup tournaments and appeared in five NCAA Division I finals winning three.
The Cardinals have also added their fair share of legends that represented Stanford during their college soccer career. Kelley O’Hara, Christen Press, Andi Sullivan, Catarina Macario, and Alana Cook all suited up for the Cardinals and have gone on to compete in the NWSL and USWNT. Paul Ratcliffe has been leading Stanford since 2003 and definitely has proved they are a force to be reckoned with in Pac-12 and NCAA play.
Penn State University
Penn State University competes in the Big Ten, and they were ranked number seven in the first United Soccer Coaches Poll of the 2021 season. The Nittany Lions are currently 5-1-0 before conference play begins, and they continue to find themselves at the top of the ranks.
They came off a big win against No. 3 University of Virginia, defeating them 4-2 on the Cavaliers home turf. Head coach Erica Dambach has been with her Penn State squad for 14 seasons and never seems to disappoint. Dambach’s experience and winning mentality have helped her teams and recruits succeed at the highest level,
As there are many top D1 college soccer programs, these are just a few that have excelled in recent years. Last season was cut short due to COVID, so there’s no saying who will take the championship. All that is known is how exciting this season has been thus far.
Featured image via @standfordwsoc on Instagram
_
GIRLS SOCCER NETWORK: YOUR SOURCE FOR GIRLS SOCCER NEWS
Girls Soccer Network
Your source for girls soccer news
