What Is 2013 AAC Men's Soccer Tournament

Overview

The 2013 American Athletic Conference (AAC) Men's Soccer Tournament marked the first-ever postseason competition for the conference following the 2013 realignment of the former Big East Conference. Formed in July 2013, the AAC launched its inaugural men’s soccer season with six member institutions competing for the conference title and an automatic bid to the 2013 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship.

The tournament followed a single-elimination format and was hosted at the UCF Soccer and Track Complex in Orlando, Florida. As the top seed, UCF earned home-field advantage throughout the tournament, culminating in a 2–1 victory over rival South Florida in the final match on November 17, 2013.

• November 14–17, 2013: The tournament spanned four days, beginning with two quarterfinal matches and concluding with the championship final.
• Six participating teams: The field included UCF, South Florida, SMU, Memphis, Houston, and UConn, all inaugural members of the AAC for men’s soccer.
• UCF as host: The University of Central Florida hosted the entire tournament at their on-campus facility, leveraging their regular-season performance for home advantage.
• Championship result: UCF defeated South Florida 2–1 in the final, securing the AAC’s first automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
• Inaugural status: This was the first AAC Men’s Soccer Tournament, following the dissolution of the original Big East soccer conference after the 2012 season.

How It Works

The 2013 AAC Men's Soccer Tournament followed a standard single-elimination format with seeding based on regular-season conference standings. Teams earned points throughout the season, and the top six squads qualified for the postseason bracket.

• Single-Elimination Format: The tournament used a knockout structure where a loss eliminated a team. Six teams competed over three rounds: quarterfinals, semifinals, and final.
• Seeding by Standings: Teams were seeded 1–6 based on their conference win-loss records, with UCF earning the #1 seed due to their 5–1–0 conference record.
• Host Selection: The highest remaining seed hosted each round, giving UCF the right to host all matches after finishing first in the regular season.
• Automatic NCAA Bid: The tournament winner received the AAC’s automatic qualification to the 2013 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship, a major incentive for teams.
• Match Duration: Each game lasted 90 minutes; if tied after regulation, matches went to two 10-minute overtime periods, followed by penalty kicks if necessary.
• Roster Rules: Teams used standard NCAA Division I rules, allowing 18-player matchday rosters with unlimited substitutions during designated breaks.

Comparison at a Glance

Below is a comparison of the six teams that participated in the 2013 AAC Men's Soccer Tournament, highlighting their regular-season records, seeds, and tournament outcomes:

The tournament demonstrated the competitive balance within the new conference, with UCF and South Florida emerging as the top contenders. While UCF claimed the title, no other AAC team received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament, underscoring the importance of winning the conference championship.

Why It Matters

The 2013 AAC Men's Soccer Tournament was significant not only as a championship event but also as a foundational moment for the newly established conference. It set the stage for future competition and helped define early rivalries and power structures within the league.

• Historical significance: As the first AAC men’s soccer champion, UCF etched its name into the conference’s record books during its inaugural season.
• Conference legitimacy: The tournament validated the AAC as a competitive soccer conference following the realignment of the Big East.
• Rivalry development: The UCF–South Florida final intensified an existing regional rivalry, boosting fan engagement and media attention.
• NCAA implications: Winning the tournament was the only path to the NCAA tournament for AAC teams, increasing stakes and competitiveness.
• Player recognition: Several players earned All-Conference honors, including UCF’s João Moutinho, who played a key role in the championship win.
• Future structure: The tournament format and hosting model influenced subsequent AAC postseason planning through the 2010s.

The 2013 tournament laid the groundwork for the AAC to become a consistent presence in college soccer, with future champions like SMU and Tulsa building on this foundation in years to come.