ORANGE BEACH, Ala. – Sixteen teams from across the country opened competition Monday for the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Women’s Soccer National Championship title at the Orange Beach Sportsplex. By tomorrow, only two will be left to vie for the NAIA crown. The tournament continues today with semifinals at noon and at 2:30 p.m. The championship will kickoff tomorrow, Saturday, Dec. 3 at 5 p.m.

This is the fifth year for the site along with the University of Mobile to hit the event.

The NAIA impacts each community it visits through its Champions of Character program, which reflects the core values of integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship and servant leadership. In Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, teams conduct soccer clinics at the elementary schools.

Earlier this week, the No. 5 seeded University of Mobile Rams were upset by No. 12 Benedictine (Kan.) 5-2 Monday night in the second round of the 2016 NAIA Women’s Soccer National Championship at the Orange Beach Sportsplex. Another upset victim was No. 4 William Carey (Miss.) dropping a 2-1 match to No. 13 Baker (Kan.).

No. 1 seed Spring Arbor and No. 8 seed Vanguard also advanced with Baker and Benedictine to the quarterfinals Wednesday with the rest of the field. Results of those quarterfinal matches were not completed in time for this print edition. Visit Gulf Shores.com/Sports or call 1-800-745-SAND for additional information on upcoming athletic events along Alabama’s Gulf Coast.

Second round scores:

•No. 12 Benedictine (Kan.) def. No. 5 Mobile (Ala.) 5-2

•No. 13 Baker (Kan.) def. No. 4 William Carey (Miss.) 2-1

•No. 8 Vanguard (Calif.) def. No. 9 Martin Methodist (Tenn.) 1-0

•No. 1 Spring Arbor (Mich.) def. No. 16 Cumberland (Tenn.) 4-0

•No. 13 Reinhardt def. No. 3 Keiser 3-2

•Northwest ties Ottawa 0-0 (Northwest advances on PK’s 4-2)

•No. 7 Northwestern Ohio def. No. 10 Westmont 3-1

•No. 15 Columbia ties No. 2 Lindsey Wilson 2-2 (Columbia advances on PK’s 4-3)