Flint Powers girls soccer continues torrid pace with 8

Almost 8,500 votes were cast in the Flint-area Athlete of the Week poll for April 26-May 1. (MLive File Photo)

BEVERLY HILLS, Mich. -- The Flint Powers Catholic girls soccer team blew through its district-round competition in with ease last week and that momentum carried into the region semifinals on Tuesday night at Detroit Country Day.

After winning its two district games, 8-0, last week, Powers continued to pour on the offense as it beat Frankenmuth, 8-1, to move onto Thursday's Division 3 region championship game against Warren Regina.

Although the game was tied at 1-1 just eight minutes into the contest, Powers went on to take a 4-1 lead by halftime and then score four more goals in the second half.

"We came with the mentality that we have to play hard, strong from the get-go (and) from the whistle, just like we did last week in our district matches," said Powers coach Art Moody. "That was the conversation we had. We came in a little flat (and) Frankenmuth came in very hard, congrats to them. We just had to remind them that we just need to play our way, Power soccer way."

Powers had two goals each from junior defender Grace Cameron and junior forward Caralyn Haas. Freshman defender Danielle Bobowski, junior forward Peyton Staley, sophomore midfielder Grace Murphy and sophomore forward Lexis Affrica each scored for Powers as well.

"Determination," Moody said. "I think that's probably the number one word. We talked about that from the get go. We get out here and show them Power soccer and just put an exclamation point on everything we do and we finish it that way too."

Heading into the region finals as the No. 6 team in Division 3, the Chargers may see its streak of eight-goal games come to an end against No. 8-ranked Regina. Regina topped perennial power and No. 9-ranked Pontiac Notre Dame Prep in a shootout, 2-1, in the game prior to advance.

"Regina came out there today and really stunned, I think, a lot of people," Moody said. "Congrats to them coming out here and getting that W. We knew that was going to be a great game. We were watching the game and congrats to both teams on being here, but yeah, I think we’ve got some homework to do."

Frankenmuth coach Brad Thompson knew his team were tagged as major underdogs, but that did not stop him from oozing pride and emotion about what his time accomplished this season in winning a district title.

"Three years ago, I took over (and) there is players on this team that made it their goal that year that we wanted a district title. We were just talking, it took us three years to get there. But big goals in life don't come in short time periods. You have to work and work and work and work and work. It took three years to get that district title.

Frankenmuth's lone goal was scored by freshman Al Peterson eight minutes into the game and sent Frankenmuth's sideline into a frenzy as they tied the game, 1-1. Last year, Frankenmuth was mercied by Powers in the district finals, 8-0.

"This might sound like a stupid goal to some people, but we also didn't want to get mercied. It got close -- it came down to the last 10 seconds -- but not a single mercy this year. To include against this team that we all know is perennially one of the best teams in the state of Michigan -- not only did they not mercy us, they didn't smack us like they did last year and we got a goal against them."

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