SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. -- The John Brown University women's soccer earned an at-large berth to the 2026 NAIA Women's Soccer National Championship on Friday (Nov. 13), receiving the No. 15 overall seed and the opportunity to host MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) in Saturday's (Nov. 21) Second Round at Alumni Field, the NAIA National Office announced Friday night (Nov. 13).
The Golden Eagles (14-2-3) secured their 13th national tournament appearance and ninth consecutive invitation, extending a streak that dates to 2018. John Brown earned its first at-large berth since 2019 after six consecutive seasons of qualifying through the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament championship.
JBU will welcome the Pioneers (14-4-3) to Siloam Springs for a single Second Round match on Saturday, Nov. 21, with kickoff time to be announced. The winner will advance to the national championship's 16-team final site in Decatur, Ala., where competition begins Nov. 30.
John Brown's selection follows a 2026 campaign that included its fourth consecutive SAC regular-season championship and 10th overall, finishing unbeaten in league play at 8-0-1. The Golden Eagles put together a 17-match unbeaten stretch before falling 1-0 to Science & Arts in the SAC Tournament championship on Nov. 9, ending a run of six consecutive conference tournament titles.
The Blue and Gold entered the national selection process ranked 15th in the NAIA's Nov. 12 Ratings Percentage Index (RPI), including the nation's 31st-ranked strength of schedule, and second in the South Area Rating Committee standings. JBU was also ranked No. 17 in the final NAIA National Selection Committee Top 25 poll, bolstering a résumé that included a 2-1 victory over eventual SAC Tournament champion Science & Arts and draws against nationally ranked Oklahoma Wesleyan and Columbia (Mo.).
Offensively, John Brown has produced 79 goals in 19 matches, averaging 4.16 per contest, while allowing just 11 goals. Junior Katherine Keys leads the Golden Eagles with 13 goals, while junior Tianna Jones has supplied a team-high 11 assists and senior Addie Craig has contributed nine goals, including four game-winners.
The Golden Eagles also collected four of the SAC's major individual postseason honors under first-year head coach Nathan Lowery. Craig was named Co-Offensive Player of the Year, junior Bella Mendieta earned Defensive Player of the Year honors, freshman goalkeeper Ansley Fuchs was selected Goalkeeper of the Year and Lowery was recognized as Coach of the Year. Fuchs has played every minute in goal for JBU, compiling a 14-2-3 record with 11 shutouts and a 0.58 goals-against average.
John Brown enters its latest national championship appearance with a 9-10-2 all-time record in the tournament, having advanced to the championship's final site in each of the past three seasons. The Golden Eagles reached the national quarterfinals in both 2024 and 2025, the deepest runs in program history, including last season's victories over Hastings (Neb.) and Life (Ga.) before a narrow 1-0 setback to Cumberlands (Ky.).
MidAmerica Nazarene, ranked No. 18 in the final National Selection Committee poll, also received an at-large invitation after advancing to the Heart of America Athletic Conference Tournament championship, where it suffered a 1-0 loss at Central Methodist (Mo.) on Nov. 10. The Pioneers defeated nationally ranked Benedictine (Kan.) and Clarke (Iowa) on the road to reach the final, and have outscored opponents 54-14 this season. Tindra Jarl leads MNU with 17 goals, including eight game-winners, while Maria Stumpf has contributed nine goals and a team-best 11 assists.
The matchup carries a historical connection to the beginning of John Brown's women's soccer program, which opened its inaugural 2002 season with a 7-0 victory at MidAmerica Nazarene on Aug. 31. The programs most recently met on Aug. 20, 2024, when the Pioneers claimed a 1-0 decision in Olathe, Kan.
The 40-team national championship begins at 16 campus sites Nov. 19-21, featuring eight three-team brackets and eight two-team brackets. At the three-team sites, the two lower-seeded teams meet in Thursday's First Round, with the winner advancing to face a top-eight national seed Saturday. The remaining eight sites, including Alumni Field, feature a single Second Round match Saturday, with hosting assignments determined by the NAIA based on both seeding and hosting qualifications.
The 16 Second Round winners advance to the Jack Allen Sports Complex in Decatur, Ala., where the national championship continues Nov. 30-Dec. 7. All First and Second Round matches will stream free on the NAIA Network, with kickoff time, the match-specific broadcast link, live statistics and ticket information to be announced. The complete championship bracket is available through the NAIA Women's Soccer Championship homepage.
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