St. Johns Girls Soccer Wins AIA Title, Boosts County Pride
St. Johns captured the 2025 AIA fall girls soccer championship Nov. 1 at Coronado High School, ending Northland Prep’s three‑year run with a penalty‑kick victory. The dramatic finish — decided in a sixth‑round clincher by junior Lucy Sundahl — delivers a rare moment of celebration for Apache County and underscores the role of school sports in community health and cohesion.
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St. Johns sealed the 2025 Arizona Interscholastic Association fall girls soccer championship on Nov. 1, prevailing over three‑time champion Northland Prep in a tense final at Coronado High School. After regulation and overtime produced a 2‑2 scoreline, the match was decided by penalty kicks; St. Johns won 4‑3 on penalties when junior Lucy Sundahl converted the decisive kick in the sixth round. The AIA bracket shows St. Johns reached the final by defeating Payson in the semifinal and finished the championship match recorded as 6‑5 (2‑2, PKs).
The victory marks a significant shift in regional high school soccer and ends Northland Prep’s recent dominance. For St. Johns — the county seat of Apache County — the championship is more than a trophy. In a rural community where high school athletics often provide one of the few visible outlets for young people, the win is likely to strengthen local morale, encourage youth participation in sports, and spotlight the town on a statewide stage.
The match’s dramatic arc — a late regulation rally, a second comeback in overtime, and finally a penalty‑shootout conclusion — highlights the resilience and competitive spirit of the St. Johns program. Junior players such as Sundahl now carry the attention of classmates, families and local supporters, and their success can influence youth aspiration and community identity in measurable ways. High school sports serve as a social glue in smaller communities, offering structured activity, mentorship from coaches, and regular occasions for intergenerational gathering.
That communal value also brings public health considerations into focus. Participation in team sports contributes to physical fitness, mental well‑being and social connectedness for adolescents, all protective factors against anxiety, depression and substance misuse. At the same time, rural schools often contend with limited resources for athletic trainers, sports medicine, transportation and facility maintenance. Ensuring equitable access to safe programs requires attention from school boards and county policymakers, including investment in concussion protocols, emergency response equipment and travel support for student‑athletes.
The title run may spur increased demand for youth soccer programs and additional community support, creating opportunities to pair athletic success with broader health initiatives. Local healthcare providers, schools and tribal and county leaders can use this moment to reinforce injury prevention, mental health resources and inclusive programming so that benefits of sport reach all students, regardless of socioeconomic status.
As St. Johns celebrates a hard‑fought championship, the community faces a chance to translate athletic momentum into sustainable support structures that protect young athletes and expand access to the physical and social benefits of sport across Apache County.
