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NCAA postpones Fall championships: Pitt’s teams & WVU women to still play

Photo courtesy Pitt Athletics Twitter

NCAA President Mark Emmert confirmed on Thursday that the NCAA will not offer fall sports championships at any level (besides a possible FBS championship in college football).

While more conferences (Big Sky, WAC and WCC) announced on Thursday they postponed fall sports, the ACC is still moving ahead with all Fall sports.

The Atlantic Coast Conference, which has 12 men’s soccer teams, 14 women’s soccer teams, including Pitt, is still moving forward with its conference schedule.

Reloaded Pitt men’s soccer hope to keep momentum going

The season is slated to start September 10 following the format that will include six conference games, additional games against conference or non-conference foes that meet conference medical standards.

The ACC Tournament is also still scheduled with the Women to feature four teams, from November 6-8 and the Men with four teams Nov. 13-15.  Both tournaments will be played at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina.

The only other prominent regional program that’s moving forward with its season is WVU women’s program, which competes in the Big 12. WVU men, which competes in the Mid-American conference, has already had its Fall season postponed.

All other local and regional schools with Division I soccer programs have seen their soccer seasons postponed.

  • Big Ten ** Penn State men and women **(9 men’s soccer teams, 14 women’s soccer teams) fall season postponed.
  • Big 12 ** West Virginia women ** (10 women’s soccer teams) Season start: no delay. Format: no restrictions on conference or non-conference matches. Tournament: no announcement.
  • *Mid-American **West Virginia Men** (6 men’s soccer teams, 12 women’s soccer teams) fall season postponed.
  • Atlantic 10 ** Duquesne men and women **(13 men’s soccer teams, 14 women’s soccer teams) fall season postponed (conference will have “look-in window” in mid-September to assess situation).
  • Horizon ** Robert Morris men and women ** (9 men’s soccer teams, 10 women’s soccer teams) Season start: Oct. 1. Format: no restrictions on conference or non-conference matches. Tournament: no announcement.

The moves pushed the number of NCAA Division I schools with men’s or women’s soccer that won’t play in the fall over the threshold of 50 percent the NCAA set to call off fall championships in the sports.

“The board of governors established if you don’t have half of the schools playing a sport, you can’t have a legitimate championship,” Emmert said on Thursdays

“We can’t in any Division I NCAA championship sport now — which is everything other than FBS football that goes on in the fall. Sadly, tragically, that’s going to be the case this fall, full stop.”

Postponed fall sports:

  • Conferences: 20 of 32.
  • Conferences with women’s soccer: 19 of 31.
  • Conferences with men’s soccer: 16 of 24.
  • Conferences with football: 13 of 22.

The NCAA’s Board of Governors left it up to the three divisions to decide whether to proceed with fall sports. The NCAA Division II and III councils cancelled fall sports championships but won’t hold them in the spring.

Here’s a look at where conferences currently stand regarding soccer (list courtesy Soccer America) …

Power 5 conferences (5) with local schools highlighted:

  • ACC ** Pitt men and women ** (12 men’s soccer teams, 14 women’s soccer teams) Season start: Sept. 10. Format: 6 conference games, additional games against conference or non-conference foes that meet conference medical standards. Tournament: Women (four teams Nov. 6-8 at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina); Men (four teams Nov. 13-15 at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina).
  • Big Ten ** Penn State men and women **(9 men’s soccer teams, 14 women’s soccer teams) fall season postponed.
  • Big 12 ** West Virginia women ** (10 women’s soccer teams) Season start: no delay. Format: no restrictions on conference or non-conference matches. Tournament: no announcement.
  • Pac-12 (6 men’s soccer teams, 12 women’s soccer teams). fall season postponed.
  • SEC. (14 women’s soccer teams) Season start: Sept. 1. Format: no restrictions announced on conference or non-conference matches. Tournament: no announcement.

Group of 5 conferences (5):

  • AAC. (6 men’s soccer teams, 9 women’s soccer teams) Season start: Sept. 1. Format: no restrictions announced on conference or non conference matches. Tournament: Women (four teams); Men (four teams).
  • Conference USA (8 men’s soccer teams, 10 women’s soccer teams)  Season start: no announcement. Format: no restrictions on conference or non-conference matches.
  • (Old Dominion postponed fall sports.)
  • Tournament: Women (Nov. 4-8 at Rice); Men (eliminated).
  • *Mid-American **West Virginia Men** (6 men’s soccer teams, 12 women’s soccer teams) fall season postponed.
  • *Mountain West (12 women’s soccer teams) fall season postponed.
  • Sun Belt (5 men’s soccer teams, 8 women’s soccer teams) Season start: Sept. 3. Format: no restrictions on conference or non-conference matches. Tournament: Women (Nov. 4-8 at Foley Sports Tourism Complex in Foley, Alabama); Men (Nov. 11-15 at Georgia State).

*Postponed football.

FCS conferences (12):

  • *Big Sky (10 women’s soccer teams) fall season postponed.
  • *Big South. (9 men’s soccer teams, 12 women’s soccer teams). fall season postponed.
  • *CAA (9 men’s soccer teams, 10 women’s soccer teams) fall season postponed (decision left up to individual schools).
  • *Ivy League (8 men’s soccer teams, 8 women’s soccer teams) fall season postponed.
  • *Missouri Valley (6 men’s soccer teams, 8 women’s soccer teams) Season start: Sept. 18. Format: conference-only schedule. Tournament: no announcement.
  • *Northeast (11 men’s soccer teams, 12 women’s soccer teams) fall season postponed (conference will reconvene Oct. 1 to evaluate the public health crisis and competitive options).
  • Ohio Valley (11 women’s soccer teams) Season start: Sept. 17. Format: conference-only schedule. Tournament: no announcement.
  • *Patriot League (8 men’s soccer teams, 8 women’s soccer teams) fall season postponed.
  • (Army and Navy were exempted from postponement.)
  • *Pioneer League (football-only conference) fall season postponed.
  • Southern (7 men’s soccer teams, 10 women’s soccer teams) Season start: no announcement. Format: no restrictions on conference or non-conference matches. Tournament: Women (top four teams) Men (top four teams).
  • Southland (10 women’s soccer teams) Season start: Sept. 1. Format: no restrictions announced on conference or non conference matches. Tournament: four teams Nov. 6-8 at site to be determined.
  • *SWAC (10 women’s soccer teams). fall season postponed.

*Postponed football.

Conferences with no football (10):

  • America East (8 men’s soccer teams, 9 women’s soccer teams) fall season postponed.
  • Atlantic 10 ** Duquesne men and women **(13 men’s soccer teams, 14 women’s soccer teams) fall season postponed (conference will have “look-in window” in mid-September to assess situation).
  • Atlantic Sun (7 men’s soccer teams, 9 women’s soccer teams) Season start: Sept. 18. Format: no restrictions on conference or non-conference matches. Tournament: no announcement.
  • Big East (11 men’s soccer teams, 11 women’s soccer teams). fall season postponed.
  • Big West (9 men’s soccer teams, 10 women’s soccer teams) fall season postponed.
  • Horizon ** Robert Morris men and women ** (9 men’s soccer teams, 10 women’s soccer teams) Season start: Oct. 1. Format: no restrictions on conference or non-conference matches. Tournament: no announcement.
  • MAAC (11 men’s soccer teams, 11 women’s soccer teams) fall season postponed.
  • Summit (6 men’s soccer teams, 9 women’s soccer teams) fall season postponed.
  • WAC (12 men’s soccer teams, 10 women’s soccer teams). fall season postponed.
  • WCC (8 men’s soccer teams, 10 women’s soccer teams) fall season postponed.

 

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John Krysinsky has covered soccer and other sports for many years for various publications and media outlets. He is also author of 'Miracle on the Mon' -- a book about the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, which chronicles the club, particularly the early years of Highmark Stadium with the narrative leading up to and centered around a remarkable match that helped provide a spark for the franchise. John has covered sports for Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, DK Pittsburgh Sports, Pittsburgh Sports Report, has served as color commentator on Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC broadcasts, and worked with OPTA Stats and broadcast teams for US Open Cup and International Champions Cup matches held in the US. Krysinsky also served as the Head Men’s Soccer Coach at his alma mater, Point Park University, where he led the Pioneers to the first-ever winning seasons and playoff berths (1996-98); head coach of North Catholic boys (2007-08), associate head coach of Shady Side Academy boys (2009-2014).

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