By: Lucas Gannon, Fall '26 Intern
The New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) returns to the Cortland area to conduct its Girls Soccer State Championships on Saturday, November 14 and Sunday, November 15. This year's state tournament will be hosted at Cortland High School, Homer High School, and Dryden High School. The Cortland area has hosted this event for 19 straight years.
“On behalf of the NYSPHSAA Girls Soccer State Committee, it is an honor to welcome the finest teams, coaches, and supporters to this year's Girls Soccer State Championships.” said Matthew Wood, NYSPHSAA Girls Soccer State Coordinator. “Reaching this stage is a testament to the extraordinary dedication, grit, and sportsmanship demonstrated by our student athletes throughout the season. We extend our deepest gratitude to our host venues, officials, and volunteers whose tireless efforts make this premier showcase of athletic excellence possible. Best of luck to all competitors as they take the pitch and create unforgettable memories."
In 2025, state champions were Commack (Section XI) in Class AAA, Albertus Magnus (Section I) in Class AA, Rye (Section I) in Class A, Marcellus (Section III) in Class B, Stillwater (Section 2) in Class C, and Cincinnatus (Section III) in Class D.
This year Albertus Magnus returns to the tournament in a new classification to face Arlington (Section I) in Class AAA play in hopes of capturing the program’s fourth state title since 2022. Rye returns to face New Hartford (Section III) in the Class A semifinals in search of its third Class A title in four years. Marcellus returns to the semifinal round following another outstanding regular season and will continue their quest for a Class B three-peat against Pleasantville (Section I) on Saturday. Stillwater will face Greene (Section IV) to kick off action in the Class C semifinal and looks to repeat as champions after an impressive 2025 championship run. Cincinnatus will meet Northstar Christian (Section V) in the Class D semifinal and are looking to win their third Class D title since 2023.
The event this year will feature six classifications with four teams qualifying from each class. Approximately 750 athletes from twenty-four different schools will get to participate for the chance of winning a state title. There will be twelve semifinals on Saturday (all classifications will play) then on Sunday, all six finals will take place at two sites—Cortland High School and Homer High School.
The ticket price for the event is $13.60 per person including fees and can be purchased online at nysphsaa.org. If you cannot attend the event in person, all games will be streamed on the NFHS Network, the official broadcasting partner of NYSPHSAA.