Northern Colorado soccer center stage with teams in every Colorado high school title game
How remarkable is this?
Forget calling this week Colorado's high school state soccer championship week.
This is Northern Colorado's high school girls soccer showcase.
Three teams separated by mere miles will all play for Colorado high school soccer titles this week.
Fossil Ridge (Class 5A), Windsor (4A) and Timnath (3A) are all in 2025 finals. About 10 miles or less separates each of the schools. You can take a 20-minute driving lap and hit the campuses of all three. Want to zoom out the map a bit more? Loveland Classical is in the 2A final. It's possible all four Colorado state titles for 2025 will belong in Northern Colorado.
Northern Colorado has long been a girls soccer hotbed. Dozens of NoCo athletes play college soccer. There's elite-level talent with the likes of USWNT and NWSL stars Sophia Smith and Jaelin Howell. The local high school teams are often in the top 10 of the state rankings.
Elite girls soccer success is not new in Northern Colorado. But this? This is new. These teams are all intertwined. Players from each school either currently are playing or formerly played with one another on local club teams.
Fossil Ridge and Windsor share a league during regular-season play. Fossil Ridge won the 5A/4A Northern Conference with Windsor second in a tight 2-1 regular-season game. Windsor played Timnath in the regular season, winning 2-0.
Iron sharpens iron. Now all will look to bring a gold trophy back up Interstate 25 this week.
Here's a look at the title game for each, their path there and what it means:
Colorado 5A soccer championship: Fossil Ridge chasing first title
- 5A title game: No. 5 Fossil Ridge (14-1-4) vs. No. 6 Castle View (13-3-3), 8 p.m. May 21 at Switchbacks Weidner Field in Colorado Springs.
- Path to the title game: Fossil Ridge beat No. 28 Arvada West 5-0 in the first round, No. 12 Columbine 2-0 in the second round, No. 4 Ralston Valley on penalties (1-1 draw, advanced 4-2 on penalty kicks) in quarterfinals and No. 8 Valor Christian 1-0 in the semifinals.
- Historical context: Fossil Ridge has been historically excellent in girls soccer, but without the late-season finish. In the last 10 full seasons (excluding the COVID-shortened 2021 season), the SaberCats have averaged 11.7 wins per year. That includes a 15-win and two 14-win seasons. But Fossil Ridge always faltered before this point despite frequent high seedings. This was the first semifinal appearance since 2013 and May 21 is the first title game. "Of all the names and all the talent that has come through, this team is different," Fossil Ridge coach Cyrus Salehi said.
Colorado 4A soccer championship: Windsor hunting another title
- 4A title game: No. 3 Windsor (16-3) vs. No. 1 Evergreen (16-1-2), 8 p.m. May 20 at Switchbacks Weidner Field in Colorado Springs.
- Path to the title game: Windsor beat No. 3 Canon City 4-0 in the first round, No. 14 Coronado 7-0 in the second round, No. 6 Mead 3-1 in the quarterfinals and No. 10 Rampart in the semifinals.
- Historical context: Windsor is the near-dynasty. In the last 10 years, the Wizards have averaged 15.2 wins per season and made at least the semifinals five times. Windsor won the 2018 4A title but lost the 2022 final. The Wizards also have three semifinal losses in the last 10 years. Evergreen is a juggernaut in its own right as the defending champion, 2021 runner-up and team that knocked Windsor out last year (2-1 in the second round) as well as in 2017. It's a battle of titans.
Colorado 3A soccer championship: Timnath writing history
The Timnath girls soccer team upset Kent Denver 1-0 in the Class 3A semifinals on May 15, 2025. The Cubs advance to the first title game in program history.
- 3A title game: No. 11 Timnath (13-4-2) vs. No. 1 Colorado Academy (16-1-2), 5 p.m. May 20 at Switchbacks Weidner Field in Colorado Springs.
- Path to title game: Timnath beat No. 22 Lamar 8-0 in the first round, No. 6 Manitou Springs 3-1 in the second round, No. 3 Delta 1-0 in the quarterfinals and No. 2 Kent Denver 1-0 in the semifinals.
- Historical context: The Cubs are coming. That's the biggest takeaway of this remarkable rise. The program is in just its third season. It's the first year with seniors (Timnath's first graduation is May 23). Timnath has been good, going 11-4-1 in 2023 and 16-1-1 in 2024, with a quarterfinal loss to Colorado Academy. But this is a big next step. The Cubs have pulled three big playoff upsets, including a semifinal win over juggernaut Kent Denver. Now another powerhouse waits. Colorado Academy is the defending 3A champ and beat Timnath 7-0 in the playoffs a year ago.
Colorado high school girls soccer championship information
Here is the state title game schedule:
May 20 at Switchbacks Weidner Field
- 5 p.m.: 3A Final - No. 1 Colorado Academy vs. No. 11 Timnath
- 8 p.m.: 4A Final - No. 1 Evergreen vs. No. 3 Windsor
May 21 at Switchbacks Weidner Field
- 5 p.m.: 2A Final - No. 6 Loveland Classical vs. No. 8 Flatirons Academy
- 8 p.m.: 5A Final - No. 5 Fossil Ridge vs. No 6 Castle View
Tickets: All tickets must be purchased online via SeatGeek. No cash sales will be made on site. It is recommended that you purchase your ticket in advance to ensure quick and easy access to the venue.
Tickets for May 20 3A and 4A finals are available here. Tickets for May 21's 2A and 5A finals are available here.
Other information: A clear bag policy will be in use. The lone fan entrance to the stadium is the northeast entry (at the corner of Cimarron Street and Sahwatch Street).
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Northern Colorado soccer center stage with teams in every Colorado high school title game
