Familiar set play pays off for Timberline girls soccer. Now they’re state champs
Head coach Maison O’Neill and assistant Maggie Gropp played for the Timberline girls soccer team in high school, but they never won a state championship.
A new class of Wolves made their title dreams a reality.
Top-seeded Timberline shut out No. 2 Rocky Mountain 1-0 in the 6A state tournament championship match Saturday afternoon at Rocky Mountain High School. It was the first state title for the Wolves since they won back-to-back championships in 2007-08.
“They’ve believed that they can be state champions all season, and we believed that, too,” said O’Neill, who graduated from Timberline in 2013. “But we knew it wasn’t going to be easy.
“This Valley has very talented teams, and yesterday against Owyhee and today against Rocky were both very tough games. But our girls had that confidence that they deserve to be champions, and they played like it.”
Timberline (16-1-4) finished the season with the classification’s top defense, allowing just eight goals while scoring 72. They surrendered a single goal during three games at the state tourney while scoring six.
With opportunities at a premium Saturday, the Wolves took advantage of a set piece they know well.
Junior Maya Atkinson served a corner kick from the left side in front of the goal. Rocky keeper Emily Wendt tried to clear it, but Timberline junior center back Reese Vachek was right there to head the ball into the net in the 28th minute.
It was the 10th time this season Vachek has scored in such a fashion with the assist from Atkinson.
“I just think if I can put a good ball in, Reese is always going to be on the end of it,” Atkinson said. “She just has that mentality that she’s going to score that header. And I just have to be accountable for myself to put a good ball in.”
Rocky Mountain (15-3-3) entered the championship match having scored a conference-best 91 goals. Senior forward Campbell Wilson had tallied a 6A-leading 37 goals this season, but the Wolves were able to keep her in check in the championship match.
Wilson had scored on Timberline in the two teams’ only meeting during the regular season — a 1-1 tie on Sept. 9.
“We had a lot of communication. We always had pressure on her, never let her give her space to turn and do all the skills she has and stuff,” Vachek said. “We just stayed tight on her and didn’t let her turn, and then we shut her down.”
With only three starters who are seniors, the Wolves are looking forward to another run at a title in 2026. And after losing in the state semifinals the previous three seasons, senior Maura Walters was grateful to finally hoist the championship trophy.
“It’s crazy. I honestly did not think it would happen,” Walters said. “And here we are. I think it’s super cool, super fun.”
IDAHO 6A GIRLS SOCCER STATE TOURNAMENT
OWYHEE 1, BOISE 0: The Storm claimed the third-place trophy for the second year in a row with a victory over the Brave on Saturday at Rocky Mountain High.
Senior Peyton Scott scored the game’s only goal for Owyhee, while senior Griffyn Johnson made three saves for the clean sheet.
Freshman keeper Joee Cromie totaled two saves in goal to lead Boise.
HIGHLAND 2, MOUNTAIN VIEW 1 (OT): Senior midfielder Peyton Looney had her penalty kick stopped in overtime, but she corralled the rebound and scored to lift the Rams to the consolation title.
Senior forward Marisol Stosich tallied Mountain View’s only goal on a penalty kick.
SATURDAY
At Rocky Mountain
Consolation
Highland 2, Mountain View 1 (OT)
Third place
Owyhee 1, Boise 0
Championship
Timberline 1, Rocky Mountain 0
IDAHO 5A GIRLS SOCCER STATE TOURNAMENT
MOSCOW 1, VALLIVUE 0 (2OT): Junior Winnie Colvin scored in the second 10-minute overtime to send the Bears to their first state championship in program history on Saturday at Middleton High School.
The Falcons (15-6-0), who were also trying for their first state title, got eight saves in goal from freshman Delaney Hughes.
SATURDAY
At Middleton High
Consolation
Skyline 3, Sandpoint 0
Third place
Hillcrest 3, Pocatello 1
Championship
Moscow 1, Vallivue 0 (2OT)
IDAHO 4A GIRLS SOCCER STATE TOURNAMENT
FRUITLAND 1, KIMBERLY O (OT): Freshman Sofie Vidlak found the back of the net in overtime to lift the Grizzlies to a win over the Bulldogs.
It marked the second straight year that Fruitland has come home with the third-place trophy.
Sophomore Payson Bratcher made two saves in goal for the Grizzlies to earn the clean sheet
SATURDAY
At Meridian High
Consolation
Sun Valley Community 7, American Falls 1
Third place
Fruitland 1, Kimberly 0 (OT)
Championship
Sugar-Salem 4, Marsh Valley 0
This story was originally published October 25, 2025 at 2:52 PM.
