(Have photos to go with this story? Email pics to Web and Content Editor / Director of News Dan Stickradt at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com and dstickradt@thepremiermediagrp.com and also list the photo credit as well.)
MICHIGAN SOCCER NETWORK: MSN NEWS: www.michigansoccernetwork.com/msnnews
BY DAN STICKRADT
WEB AND CONTENT EDITOR | DIRECTOR OF NEWS
Michigan Soccer Network | Premier Media Group and affiliates
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FLINT, Mich. – Scoring an early goal to set the tone and gain momentum can be crucial in any state tournament game.
Flint Powers Catholic rode the waves of one of those early goals – a fifth-minute tally – and the second-ranked Chargers tightened the grip defensively against third-ranked Imlay City to claim a 1-0 victory Wednesday in a Division 3 regional semifinal match at Atwood Stadium on the campus of Kettering University.
Flint Powers Catholic, the runner-up in the 12-school Saginaw Valley League despite being a D-3 school, will face top-ranked Pontiac Notre Dame Prep at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Atwood Stadium. Notre Dame Prep cruised past Frankenmuth 4-1 in the second regional semifinal Wednesday.
“You always want to get that first one,” admitted veteran Flint Powers coach Paul Stravato. “It’s very important for your psyche and your confidence and your belief. We’ve been in some tight games and it would have been nice to get a second goal. We had chances to get the second and we didn’t.”
Imlay City, which captured its 10th straight Blue Water Area Conference title and 14th in 15 seasons to go along with its sixth straight district crown, finishes the season with a 21-4-0 record but first loss since a 4-2 setback to Pontiac Notre Dame Prep on Sept. 3.
The Spartans came in averaging 4.67 goals a game, outscoring the opposition 112-16 this season, and had won 16 straight games entering regional play. It was just the third time Imlay City was kept off the scoreboard this season.
“That is a very talented team. They’ve scored a ton of goals this season and they’ve been here a few times recently,” said Stravato on Imlay City.
The sole goal came in just the fifth minute. Senior midfielder Leo Stravato beat a defender, dumped the ball into the box before catching up to the ball before slotting the ball through traffic over and to an onrushing Logan Johnson. The junior was able to tuck the ball into the back of the net – and it proved to be the game-winner.
Imlay City just couldn’t find its normal rhythm offensively in being shut out for the first time since August.
“These guys they love the game. We’ve been able to keep up with (tough) competition in our non-league games,” noted 15th season Imlay City coach Luis Hernandez, who noted that the top three teams in the state played in the regional semifinals Tuesday at Atwood Stadium. “We played Flint Powers and they’re a pretty tough team. Once we started playing league games we had a lot of points. But in games like this (against Powers) it’s a 1-goal game. I’m pretty proud of these guys as they were able to keep up with Flint Powers – they’re ranked (second) in the state. It was a fairly even game.
“We’ve won a lot of league titles since I been here. I think around 14 leagues in the 15 years I’ve been here and I think something like six straight districts,” added Hernandez. “I think it’s a (testament) to these guys. They gave it everything they had in each game. I couldn’t ask for anything more.”
It was a little bit of too close of comfort for Stravato and Co., as the veteran coach would have liked for Powers to gain some more distance against one of the elite offensive teams in the state.“We’ve learned that these (quality) teams can make you uncomfortable if you don’t (convert) your chances,” said Powers coach Paul Stravato. “I think we had some golden chances that they made tremendous saves or we just finish enough. So, we got ourselves into a dogfight (with Imlay City) and it was a competitive game.
“We’ve been working on closing out games. We had a 1-nil against (Detroit Country Day) where we had to keep it up and see the game out. We had a 1-0 win against (Saginaw) Heritage and they’re a good team. Same situation there,“ continued Stravato. “We had a 2-0 lead on Grand Blanc earlier in the year. We couldn’t see it out, couldn’t keep our composure and lost. We were outlasted by (Grand Blanc’s) want and desire. Maybe this shows the growth and composure and game sense of this team no being able to win close games.”
Flint Powers (17-3-2) outshot Imlay City 12-6 overall, including 7-3 with shots on frame, and also held a 6-1 advantage off cornerkicks. Still, the Chargers could not score again and had to play stout defense to slow down the high-octane engine of the Spartans (21-4-0).
Imlay City freshman goalkeeper Max Galiana finished with six saves on the night, including a couple of point-blank range shots, while junior Ethan Everhart slide in to stop a breakaway opportunity on the left side of the box by Leo Stravato during the second half to keep it a one-goal game.
Senior Armando Lopez III recorded three saves for Flint Powers for his eighth shutout of the season. The Chargers, who now own an 81-27 scoring edge this season, were missing one key backline player who is hospitalized and out for the season.
It was the next man up mentality for the Chargers’ backline.
“We’ve moved Grant Roberts inside tonight Grant Roberts is the best 1-v-1 defender I’ve seen (this year),” noted Stravato of having to shuffle players around and asking Roberts to step up at center back against an explosive Imlay City roster. The kid is amazing. We moved him inside. We put Sonny Evely out there, too. He played the full 80 and was cramping at the end. But our defense played tough.”
Flint Powers played a tough non-league schedule along with several quality programs in the top half of the Saginaw Valley League. That tough schedule and preparation has aided the Chargers on another deep run into the state tournament.
“We played whoever called,” admitted Stravato. “You call us, we’ll play you. We don’t look at what league you come from or what record. The best teams call us (each year) and we’ll play them. I walked into this season and thought if we can be five hundred with the schedule we’re playing and would love that. We got some great results.”
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(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 involving teams, players or coaches with Michigan ties, contact Communications Specialist/Web and Content Editor/Director of News Dan Stickradt via email at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com or dstickradt@thepremiermediagrp.com, or call 248-884-1051 or 248-525-2349. 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 and jonathan@thepremiermediagrp.com.)
(MSN will compile a random sampling of game results from around the state each day. To send in results from high school varsity, club, amateur, pre-pro, semi-pro or professional soccer, email all pertinent details to Communications Specialist / Web and Content Editor / Director of News Dan Stickradt at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com and dstickradt@thepremiermediagrp.com or submit information right on the correct link on the MSN website at https://www.michigansoccernetwork.com/reportascore. Please submit the competing teams, location and date of game, final score, overall and league records, goals, assists, goalkeepers and saves, standout defenders, players of the match, and any other pertinent details of the game. If there are courtesy action photos available, feel free to submit them at the above-listed emails.)
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