BY DAN STICKRADT
COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST | WEB AND CONTENT EDITOR | DIRECTOR OF NEWS
PH: (248) 884-1051
TW/X: @msn_stickradt @LocalSportsFans @MiSoccerNetwork
OXFORD, Mich. – Revenge can be sweet, especially when it comes in a tournament setting.
Hartland gained its revenge on Bloomfield Hills Thursday and it was two years in the making.
After succumbing to the Blackhawks in the 2022 Division 1 regional finals, 2-1, the Eagles got their payback Thursday in a 2-1 victory over Bloomfield Hills in the regional finals at Oxford High School.
Sophomore forward Paige Sundman scored twice, including the game winner with 17:47 left in the second half to lift Hartland to the regional championship and into the Final Four for the first time since 2021.
Hartland (15-3-3) went on to claim its first state title in 2021 with Bloomfield Hills winning the state title in 2022.
The Eagles will face unranked Grand Haven in the state semifinals Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Grand Ledge High School. Grand Haven has sprung a long line of upsets during the last month in both its conference tournament and state tournament to reach the Final Four for the first time in school history.
The Buccaneers captured their regional title with a 1-0 victory over fifth-ranked Portage Central.
Addi Frantti, who scored two goals in the regional semifinals, set up Hartland’s first goal with 3:58 to go in the first half, as Sundman got on the end of her cross and slammed it into the back of the net for a 1-0 lead at the half.
Bloomfield Hills (8-5-4) tied it up with 22:21 remaining in the second half on a goal from junior forward Chloe Salo.
That set the stage for Sundman’s game winner five minutes later. Senior outside back Brook LeGault set up the game-winner, sending a long pass down the right side that was chased down by Sundman, who eventually cashed in her breakaway opportunity with her 11th goal of the season. Sundman’s shot came from nearly 40 yards out. Sundman caught Bloomfield Hills senior goalkeeper Jenica Opdahl off her line on the go-ahead goal.
(The Michigan Soccer Network will compile a random sampling of game results from around the state each day. To send in results from high school varsity, collegiate, club, ECNL, Girls Academy, MLS Next Academy, amateur, pre-pro, semi-pro or professional soccer for any team with Michigan ties, email all pertinent details to Communications Specialist / Web and Content Editor / Director of News Dan Stickradt at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com or submit information right on the correct link on the MSN website at www.michigansoccernetwork.com. Go to MSN News in the upper left corner, scroll down to Report A Score and send in all of the pertinent information from your contest.)
(Have a story suggestion for the Premier Media Group and the Michigan Soccer Network regarding club soccer, high school varsity, amateur soccer, collegiate soccer or professional soccer of teams or players with Michigan ties, contact Communications Specialist/Web and Content Editor/Director of News Dan Stickradt via email at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com, or call 248-884-1051. Dan Stickradt is a 31-year veteran of the Michigan Media circles and recently joined the staff full time in March of 2024. Want to schedule a broadcast game or live show, contact PMG/MSN Director of Broadcasting Jonathan Turner for availability and pricing at jonathan@michigansoccernetwork.com.)
Comments