2025 MSHSL State Soccer Finals Preview

The Minnesota State High School League’s annual state soccer tournament hits Championship Friday tomorrow and as we expand our coverage heading into 2026, we’ll be covering the finals for the first time ever. All six championship matches, three boys and three girls title games, will be played on Halloween 2025 at US Bank Stadium. The day and a massive 13 hours of high school soccer opens at 8am with the Girls Class AAA championship and the day ends with the Boys Class A championship kicking off at 7:15pm. Here’s the full rundown of this years championship finals and how each team got Championship Friday in Minneapolis.

Girls Class AAA: Wayzata Trojans vs Stillwater Area Ponies (8:00am)

The day will open up with the Girls Class AAA championship, featuring some of the largest schools in the state, with the Wayzata Trojans looking to repeat as champions after winning the tournament in 2024. Winners of the Lake Conference and Section 6AAA Trojans head into the championship unbeaten with a 16-0-2 record on the season. Firing on all cylinders, and led by junior Lauren Craig with 25 goals and 22 assists, the Trojans have outscored their opponents a whopping 22-2 in the playoffs. Wayzata defeated St. Michael-Albertville and Prior Lake to make it to the final.

On the other side of the pitch are the 18-1-1 and senior heavy Ponies from Stillwater Area High School. The Ponies who won the Suburban East Conference and then Section 4AAA to make the state tournament haven’t had the same offensive power in the playoffs as Wayzata, but are just as if not more dangerous on the attack. Rylee Lawrence who has scored 17 goals and added 14 assists along with Jenna Kurth with 14 goals lead the Pony attack that’s had two double digit wins this season. But the defence is where the Ponies thrive, having given up just one goal in the playoffs and primary goalkeeper Reese Elzen has played 970 minutes and only allowed seven goals against.

Boys Class AAA: Edina Hornets vs Maple Grove Crimson (10:15am)

Kicking off second on the day is the Boys AAA championship which will see a brand new champion for 2025, after Eagan was eliminated in the first round of the state tournament. Edina last won a championship in 2019 under the previous two class system when they defeated East Ridge. The Hornets head into the championship at 17-2-1 on the season, finishing third in the Lake Conference but having won Section 2AAA. Edina made it to the final after wins over St. Paul Central and Wayzata in the first two rounds of the tournament.

Their opponents are the Crimson from Maple Grove, champions of Section 5AAA, and the team who took down last season’s champion Eagan in the first round, before defeating Buffalo in the semi-final. Led by senior Everett Johnston and junior Parker Carlson who’ve combined for 28 goals and 20 assists, the downside for the Crimson has been their defence this season. Maple Grove is averaging allowing nearly a goal per match while other teams are giving up half or less of that number. A win for the Crimson would be huge as Maple Grove fell short the previous two seasons in the final and have never won a Boys soccer championship.

Girls Class AA: Mahtomedi Zephyrs vs Blake Bears (12:30pm)

The first match of the afternoon has the defending Girls Class AA champion Mahtomedi Zephyrs gunning for back to back titles as well as their sixth title since 2017. The Zephyrs are a girls soccer dynasty with 11 state titles since winning their first in 1997. During their 2025 season, the 16-2-2 Zephyrs have only given up more than one goal just once, coming in their final contest of the regular season. Wins over Grand Rapids and Mankato East put the Metro East Conference and Section 4AA champions into their second straight title game.

The Blake School are the huge underdogs and in their first championship since 2013, while looking for their first title since 2011. During the regular season Blake won the Independent Metro Athletic Conference with ease, going 8-0 in conference play. The Blake defence will be a challenge for the Zephyrs as the Bears have given up more than a single goal just twice this season, the last time coming in Section 5AA championship match. The Bears offence has been stellar so far in the state tournament, scoring seven goals in two matches.

Boys Class AA: Blake Bears vs St. Paul Como Park Cougars (2:45pm)

The Blake School students and fans will have their hands full with back to back matches as their 18-1-2 boys team attempts to win their first title since 2018 and just their third championship in school history. The Bears are a very well rounded team, having outscored their opponents 9-1 in their two state tournament matches, and allowing less than one goal per match. Junior Oliver Brown and senior Landon Bell have combined for 37 of the Bears goals while Bell and fellow senior James Lewis combine for 26 assists. Blake’s junior heavy squad took down Duluth Denfeld and Northfield to put themselves into the championship.

On the other side of the turf are the 15-5-1 and 2025 Saint Paul Cup champion St. Paul Como Park Cougars. The Cougars finished mid table in the St. Paul City Conference, but have been on a tear since late September culminating in this Cinderella run to the state championship. After winning section 4AA, Como Park defeated New Ulm in the first round before taking down Simley in double overtime to secure their place in the state final. Senior Blessed Htoo, junior Stephan N’Da, and sophomore goalkeeper Louden DeGaetano have their eyes set on a second trophy this season and what would be Como Park’s first ever state soccer title.

Girls Class A: Providence Academy Lions vs Watertown-Mayer Royals (5:00pm)

The final girls match of the day is a clash of two very different schools. The 17-3-1 and defending champion Providence Academy Lions represent the metro and have come roaring down the stretch in search of a second consecutive title. The Lions have crushed nearly every team they’ve faced in the post-season, winning Section 5A with ease on the back of 14-1, 9-0, and 4-1 wins. To get to their second consecutive and second ever state final, Providence smashed Albert Lea 14-0 in the opening round before handing Esko a 3-1 loss on Wednesday in the semi-finals.

Watertown-Mayer are one of only two schools, and the only public school, from outside the metro in playing for a state championship on Friday. The Royals are an astounding 20-1, with their only loss coming to Breck back in September. The Wright County Conference and Section 6A champions have kept 15 clean sheets in their 20 victories in 2025 and have given up an average of only 0.381 goals per match this season. The Royals made the final after defeating La Crescent-Hokah and St. Cloud Cathedral in the first two rounds. Watertown-Mayer High School has never won a boys or girls state soccer championship and Friday could be their first one.

Boys Class A: Holy Angels Stars vs St. Cloud Cathedral Crusaders (7:15pm)

Rounding out the night is the only match to not feature a public school, while also being another battle of the metro vs outstate for the Boys Class A championship. Academy of Holy Angels doesn’t have as high scoring of an offence as some other teams playing Friday, but might just have the best defence. The Stars kept 14 clean sheets and have never allowed more than a single goal, leading to an 18-0-1 record, a Tri-Metro Conference and Section 3A championship. While the Stars aim to repeat as state champions, it would be their first Class A title in the three class era as they defeated Totino-Grace to win last years Class AA boys title.

St. Cloud Cathedral are very much the opposite style of team, with a solid but not jawdropping defence but a stellar attack that the Stars will need to overcome. Carrying the banner for both the St. Cloud area and Greater Minnesota, Cathedral enter their first ever soccer state championship final at 19-1-1. The Granite Ride Conference and Section 8A champs knocked out Cristo Rey Jesuit and Stewartville to reach their first ever final to meet the Academy of Holy Angels. The biggest question for the Crusaders is can their high powered attack break through the Stars and win in what should be one of the best matches of the day.