EAST LANSING — Harbor Springs’ girls soccer team etched its name into the history books as the Rams defeated the Royal Oak Shrine Catholic 2-0 in the Division 4 state championship.
The championship is the first for any girls soccer team from northern Michigan.
“This is incredible, and I’m proud of the team,” Harbor Springs junior Stefi Reskevics said. “From the start of the season, we knew that we had to do something great.”
The junior got the Rams on the board first after an assist from senior Sophie Barnadyn flipped the field to find a wide open Reskevics, who dribbled and unloaded a rocket of a shot that went right past the Knight goalkeeper to give the Rams an early advantage with her 26th goal of the season in Friday’s game at DeMartin Field on the campus Michigan State University.
“I got the ball, took a few touches, saw the net, and I heard my coach saying to shoot it. It was a great feeling seeing it go over the goalie … We completed everything that we could’ve, and it’s an awesome feeling to finish this off.”
Harbor Springs would control most of the first half to go into the break up 1-0.
Halfway through the second half, Reskevics collided at midfield and went down for a few minutes with a hip injury. With the Ram star out, captain Sophie Barnadyn lofted a free kick to a streaking senior Lizzie Bassett, who was fouled inside of the box by the Knight goalkeeper to earn a penalty kick.
Bassett took a deep breath and nailed a shot to the left, just past junior goalkeeper Clara Fisher to take a commanding 2-0 lead.
“It’s crazy that we made school history,” Bassett said. “This is the best team that we could have done it with. We worked really hard all season, and I’m just proud of everyone that we accomplished our goal. I was definitely nervous; I’ve never taken a penalty kick before, but I’m really thankful for my teammates. … I just gave it my best. … I couldn’t ask for a better ending to my career; this is a fairy-tale ending for us.”
Only two other northern Michigan teams made it to the girls soccer state finals since the sport had a championship beginning in 1983.
Boyne City lost 3-0 to Detroit Country Day in the Division 3 finals in 2021, and Harbor Springs lost 2-1 in overtime to Clawson in the 2001 D3 final.
The Rams’ win is also only the third by a public school in Division 4, which has existed since 2000.
Royal Oak would have multiple opportunities throughout the rest of the game, but couldn’t find the back of the net thanks to great play from Harbor Springs sophomore goalkeeper Lillian McShannock to complete the state championship shutout with eight saves. Fisher also stopped eight shots.
“Harbor Springs did a good job and scored when they needed to,” Shrine coach Mark Soma said. “It just seemed it was one of those days where they weren’t going in. … We played a great game, and the girls should be proud.”
The goal for the Rams was to slow down Royal Oak Shrine sophomore Julia Kraemer, who led the Knights with 27 goals this season. Lilly Barnadyn and Makenna Brey led the defense, along with several other Rams on the back line.
The Rams won a state championship with only one loss during their 2026 campaign (20-1-2). The Knights end their season with an 11-9-2 record.
“This puts Harbor Springs on the map, and this program has been very successful since 2001,” Harbor Springs coach Aaron Riley said. “I’m glad that we won it for that team. The ladies appreciate the community support.”
Royal Oak got out on the front foot to start, but eventually, the Rams would find their rhythm after the 10-minute mark of the first half.
Harbor Springs sophomore goalkeeper Lillian McShannock stopped a sure Knight goal after juggling a free kick and onto the foot of a Knight forward who couldn’t finish it.
“I just have a lot of practice and hours. I get used to reading those, and I just know where it’s going to go and I just get there,” McShannock said. “ Our defense adjusted and locked up … if you believe and have the heart, then you can get anywhere. We started playing for each other, and we made it all the way.”
McShannock completed the shutout with at least 10 saves. Sophie Barnadyn set up both of her teammates’ goals with impressive passes to help the Rams capture their first state championship in program history.
“It just means so much, and it just shows how hard we work all season to get here. Our team’s just so connected and I just, I’m so proud of everyone,” Sophie Barnadyn said. “I had a really good feeling that we were going to win the whole thing. Everyone works, everyone plays their own role. I’m just so proud of everyone.”
Her sister, Lilly Barnadyn, played well on defense and in midfield to help the Rams win.
“We put all this work in,” Lilly Barnadyn said. “The past four years, and this year, especially, and it’s just amazing to get this far.”
For senior Fran Warren, who played all over the field for the Rams throughout the playoffs, her career ended as a state champion.
“Everyone at the beginning told us that we could win states, and I didn’t think we could really do it, but we’re strong, we’re dedicated, and we work as a team. We lifted each other up, and we did it, and I’m just so proud of everyone,” Warren said.