Hartland had to get through a tough obstacle to win its second straight Kensington Lakes Activities Association West Division girls soccer championship.
The 11th-ranked Eagles went on the road to face a Salem team that is ranked 12th in Division 1 and had lost only once this season.
Hartland was up to the challenge, coming away with a 2-0 victory to earn a co-championship with fourth-ranked Northville on Thursday, April 30.
The Eagles and Mustangs finished West Division play with 6-0-1 records. The teams played to a 1-1 tie on April 9 for Northville’s only blemish on a 10-0-1 record.
“It was a big game,” Hartland coach Andrew Kartsounes said. “We knew that Northville would probably win, which they did. That meant if we wanted to stay on top of the division we would have to get a win. We knew it was going to be tough with Salem, who has been putting up some big scores lately. We really stepped up.”
Sophomore goalie Haley DePestel had a two-save shutout two days earlier against Plymouth, but definitely earned this one by making 10 saves against a Salem team that scored 24 goals in its previous four games.
“She had an excellent game and the defense played really well,” Kartsounes said. “To get a shutout against a team like Salem is pretty impressive.”
Brinley Neuer scored the only goal of the first half off a scramble following a corner kick. Gracie Kastamo gave Hartland a 2-0 lead late in the game off a pass from Emma Storm.
The KLAA will now hold its postseason tournament, which begins Thursday, May 7. The championship game of the three-round tournament will be held on Thursday, May 14.
Fowlerville 2, Pinckney 1
Lila Neirynck scored both goals for Fowlerville. Madelyn Curry scored for Pinckney.
Softball
Fowlerville 7-14, Charlotte 1-9
Fowlerville’s Rylee Gulledge struck out 25 batters in 12 innings, allowing only six hits and four walks. Michaela Gulledge was 3-for-4 in the first game, while Annabelle Szumlinski was 3-for-5 in the second game.
Brighton 13-21, Novi 3-0
Brighton’s Lauren Damron had two triples and three RBIs in the first game. Anna Minnick drove in four runs and Chloe Sageman three in the nightcap for the Bulldogs (8-10), who have won four straight games.
Hartland 15-16, Walled Lake Western 13-10
Addy Mach was 6-for-11 with five RBIs in the doubleheader for Hartland, which came into the day with a 1-13 record. Kaitlyn Brennan drove in three runs in the second game for the Eagles.
Pinckney 13, Ann Arbor Huron 3
Morgan Kubat was 4-for-4 with three RBIs and Myah Ratzow was 2-for-4 with three RBIs for Pinckney. Sydney Arnold threw four shutout innings, striking out nine.
Baseball
Hartland 4, Salem 3
Aidan Heidt’s single with no outs and the bases loaded gave Hartland a walk-off victory in the bottom of the seventh inning. Preston Spisz was 3-for-4 for the Eagles.
Novi 6, Brighton 2
Ben Holster was 2-for-3 with two RBIs for Brighton (11-5).
Pinckney 10, Ypsilanti Lincoln 1
Zach Cortez was 2-for-3 with three RBIs and Henry Taube was 3-for-4 with two RBIs for Pinckney.
Joshua Carpentier allowed one run on two this in the first five innings, striking out seven. Justin Miner threw two no-hit innings in relief.
Charlotte 6-5, Fowlerville 5-7
Kaleb Dobbins had two RBIs in the first game for Fowlerville, while Dylan Soli and Erik Helminen each drove in two runs in the nightcap.
Girls lacrosse
Brighton 21, Northville 13
Kelly McKaig had six goals and one assist, Maggie Burchfield five goals, Isabella Orton four goals and one assist, and Quinn Holdridge three goals to lead Brighton.
Lauren Simms and Sophie Dockham each had two goals and one assist for the Bulldogs.
Plymouth 12, Howell 9
Brooke Moon and Janie Mitter each scored four goals for Howell.
Boys lacrosse
Howell 11, Novi 3
Tobias Midlam and Ryan O’Dea each scored four goals for Howell. Miles Flood made 12 saves for the Highlanders.
Hartland 15, Belleville 3
Trevor Phillips and Coen Chwalek each scored four goals to lead Hartland. Clayton Penzien had two goals and two assists.
Hartland 11, Birmingham 10
Penzien scored six goals and set up another for Hartland. Connor Gilbert had two goals and two assists, while Chwalek scored twice.
Kellan Hull won 19 faceoffs and picked up 15 ground balls.
Boys golf
Howell 152, Salem 169
Howell swept the first four places at Faulkwood Shores Golf Club, led by a 37 from senior Anson Forsyth. Dylan Flamini and Oliver Heikkinen each shot 38, while Michael Maiberger shot 39.
Hartland 157, Northville 167
Aidan Oake, Liam Kastamo and Michael Maurin of Hartland tied for first with 39s.
Contact Bill Khan at wkhan@livingstondaily.com. Follow him on X @BillKhan
This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Hartland girls soccer passes tough test to repeat as KLAA West champ
Reporting by Bill Khan, Livingston Daily / Livingston Daily
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