Livonia Stevenson penalty kick beats Hartland in KLAA girls soccer championship game
LIVONIA — Hartland got a reminder of what it’s like to lose a championship girls soccer game without paying the ultimate price.
The Eagles were scheduled to go right back to practice the day after losing 1-0 to host Livonia Stevenson Thursday in the Kensington Lakes Activities Association championship game.
The next loss, however, will be permanent.
The Eagles hope that loss never comes, as was the case three years ago when they captured the state Division 1 championship. That Hartland team didn’t even play in the KLAA title game.
“We’ve just got to keep our heads up,” said Hartland senior midfielder Emma Kastamo, who was a freshman on that state championship team. “Come districts, it’s win or go home. It’s good to feel the pressure, getting used to that. It’s a good growing opportunity for us.”
Hartland’s next game will come in the district semifinals at 5 p.m. May 28 against Holt or Howell at Okemos. Brighton is in the other bracket of that district.
Despite having more possession time and scoring chances, the sixth-ranked Eagles (11-3-3) were shut out for the third time in their last five games. Two of those games were scoreless draws.
“This was a very high-stakes game here,” Hartland coach Andrew Kartsounes said. “Unfortunately, although we carried the vast majority of the play, in our final third we weren’t connecting and creating good chances. Their goalkeeper caught everything that was hit near here. We just didn’t finish one.”
Getting its offense rolling will be critical if Hartland is to last long in the postseason.
“Our defense is playing well,” Kartsounes said. “We’re not giving up lots of chances. We have to be more consistent on the front end of things and a little more creative on the front end with our runs and how we play so we can create better chances. I don’t think we created enough chances today.”
The game’s only goal came on a penalty kick by Stevenson senior Kelsey Ware with 31:24 left in the second half. Ware was fouled in the box by Hartland defender Sophia Pietila.
“I think she pushed me from behind or something,” Ware said. “I was just focused on getting the ball. I drew a foul. I don’t know really what it was.”
Ware fired a shot into the lower right corner of the net for her 32nd goal of the season.
“I was definitely nervous,” Ware said. “I just needed to take a couple deep breaths. I knew I could, my teammates knew I could. I had their support. I just went out there and did it.”
It was the first KLAA championship for the Spartans, who lost in the 2019, 2021 and 2022 title games. Hartland is 0-3 in KLAA championship games, having also lost in 2012 and 2013.
“It means everything to me and my team and our coaches,” Ware said. “It’s amazing. We’re all really, really, really excited about it. It’s my first win. I couldn’t be prouder of our team.”
Contact Bill Khan at wkhan@gannett.com. Follow him on X @BillKhan
This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Hartland loses KLAA girls soccer final on Livonia Stevenson penalty kick
