EDITOR'S NOTE: Follow the results for the Boys Championships and Girls Championship brackets.

The Northland Prep girls soccer team has won seven of the last eight state championships and they’re hoping to make it eight of nine, including their fourth straight title in 2025 as the Fall Girls Soccer State Championships get underway this week.

“This season has challenged us in ways that have helped us grow. We’ve faced tough competition and a demanding stretch of road games, but those experiences have made us stronger and more resilient,” Northland Prep coach Michael Blair said.

After starting the season 12-0, Northland Prep (17-3-1, 4-1 Central) had an interesting stretch in late September where they went 0-3-1, losing to No. 2 Snowflake (4-1), No. 1 St. Johns (2-0), and No. 3 Payson (4-3, 2OT), and tying No. 5 Show Low 2-2.

The Spartans had beaten Show Low, St. Johns and Snowflake earlier in the season.

Since then, Northland Prep has gone 5-0 while outscoring opponents 44-0.

Players to watch out for include senior midfielder Bethany Blair, who leads the Spartans in scoring with 18 goals this season, while Reece Kellar had 16 goals and Emery Blair had 15.

“For us to win it all again, it comes down to discipline, composure, and connection,” coach Blair said. “We must stay true to our identity – move the ball quickly, defend as a unit, and trust each other. The little things will decide big games.”

Northland Prep begins their journey Oct. 28 at Lumberjack Stadium on the campus of Northern Arizona University as the No. 4 seed playing No. 5 Show Low in the play-in round.

ST. JOHNS

Shayla Udall’s group earns a spot in the final four of the Fall Girls Soccer State Championships as they await the results of play-in round games.

The No. 1-seeded Redskins (14-2, 6-0 East) have won eight straight entering the state playoffs, including victories over Payson (4-3), Northland Prep (2-0) and Round Valley (7-0).

“Our team is having a heck of a season,” coach Udall said. “If we continue to play like we have, we can win the title, but we know our competition is not going to be easy. We have great chemistry this year and a trio up top that is doing really well.”

St. Johns has a history of greatness, having won titles in 2001, 2002 and 2010.

Players to watch include Evanna Richardson, a goalkeeper, and Morgan Lee and Ivy Winters, two seniors who are solid center backs. Offensively, Lucy Sundahl, Alyvia Richardson, and Avie Udall are outstanding.

OTHERS TO WATCH

Snowflake went 11-1-1 this season in power point matches, their only loss to No. 1-ranked St. Johns (3-2). … Blue Ridge will face Snowflake during the play-in round as the No. 6 seed, but the Yellowjackets were 2-5-1 against the playoff field this season. They still have Myli Hamblin, who scored 47 goals this year, by far No. 1 in the state. … Payson was 11-6 overall, 5-0 in the Central to win the region. … Show Low’s Taylynn Butler scored 20 goals this season.

BOYS STATE SOCCER

Heading into the 2025 season, No. 1-ranked Highland Prep West boys soccer coach Ian Blain had high expectations after being a top team with no seniors a season ago.

The Hornets (13-0, 5-0 Central) were No. 2 a season ago, but lost two late matches and dropped to No. 6, earning a first-round matchup with No. 3 Show Low who beat them 4-3.

From that point on, Blain has worked on keeping his team focused.

“This year the focus was taking it one game at a time and making sure we had home field advantage for the playoffs,” Blain said, adding his team is loaded with seniors this fall, in fact 15 of the 25 players will be graduating in May.

“This is what we have been working toward since our school opened and we had a freshman team only four years ago,” Blain said.

No. 1 Highland Prep West will host No. 8 Payson when the Fall Boys Soccer State Championships get underway Oct. 28. Official start time is 6 p.m.

OTHER TEAMS TO WATCH

Snowflake earned a No. 2 seed in this year’s playoff and the Lobos (12-4) are chomping at the bit to get back to the title match after losing 2-2 to Madison Highland on penalty kicks, 7-6. … No. 3 Northland Prep will face No. 6 Sedona, which hasn’t won a title since the 2002 campaign. … No. 4 Show Low (14-4) will host No. 5 Wilcox, who they beat 1-0 to open the season all the way back in August.

Brian M. Bergner Jr. has covered professional, collegiate and high school sports for more than 20 years. Follow him on X at @AzPreps365Brian or on Facebook at @Five2MediaWorks. Have a story idea? Email Brian at bbergner@azpreps365.com.