Virginia and Santa Clara were declared co-national champions after the championship game ended in a 1–1 tie, the first national titles for each program. This tournament marks the third and final time the NCAA recognized men's soccer co-champions; the 1967 final was called due to weather, while the 1968 final was also a draw by rule.
The final was played in frigid conditions; the wind chill was ten degrees below zero at kickoff and dropped throughout the game, with the stiff breeze taking control of almost any ball kicked in the air. After the marathon 1985 final, which was played with unlimited 10-minute overtimes and required eight of them, the NCAA changed their rules to limit games to one 30-minute overtime and one 30-minute sudden-death period, each with two halves. Although all other tournament games could be decided by penalty kicks, this did not extend to the final. After the 150 minutes were played out, Virginia and Santa Clara were declared co-champions.[3]