National Collegiate Soccer Event Heads to Orange Beach

For the fourth straight year, the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) will hold its Women’s Soccer National Championship at the Orange Beach Sportsplex. Locals are encouraged to cheer on these athletes from Nov. 30 through Dec. 5 as 16 teams and more than 400 athletes from around the country will compete for the national crown in this single-elimination tournament.

 “The Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Sports Commission, along with the city of Orange Beach and host school University of Mobile, looks forward to once again welcoming this national championship to our beach destination,” said Beth Gendler, vice president of sales for the Sports Commission. “The NAIA prides itself on impacting each community it visits through its Champions of Character program by embodying the core values of integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship and servant leadership. We have felt this commitment each year, and we are proud to host this organization now and for years to come.”

Tournament tickets will be available at the gate. All-tournament passes are $30 for adults and $15 for youth, and day passes are $10 for adults and free for children 10 and under with a paying adult. Fans may also purchase tickets for $25 for the opening and semifinalist banquets at the Orange Beach Event Center at The Wharf. The opening banquet takes place on Nov. 29 at 6 p.m., and the semifinalist banquet takes place on Dec. 3 at 12 p.m.

The championship match takes place on Saturday, Dec. 5 at 3 p.m.  

Visit NAIA.org or contact Scott Barker at SBarker@NAIA.org for more information on the NAIA. For information on upcoming athletic events along Alabama’s Gulf Coast, visit GulfShoresOrangeBeachSports.com, or call 1-800-745-SAND.

Schedule:

• Monday, Nov. 30: 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, Dec. 1: 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, Dec. 2: 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
• Thursday, Dec. 3: No games
• Friday, Dec. 4: 12 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.
• Saturday, Dec. 5: 3 p.m. (championship match)

 About Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Sports Commission: Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Sports Commission is a partnership between Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism (GSOBT), the Coastal Alabama Business Chamber and the cities of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. In 2007, this commission became a department within GSOBT. In this role, the commission - along with assistance from both cities – works to bring quality sporting events to Alabama’s Gulf Coast. To learn more about a whole different state of play, please visit GulfShoresOrangeBeachSports.com.