FLINT -- Powers Catholic’s soccer record isn’t overwhelming at first glance.
The Chargers climbed over the .500 mark for the first time since the season opener after Monday’s 8-0 victory over Montrose in the Division 3 district semifinal at Atwood Stadium.
But Powers' 8-7-3 record might be a bit misleading.
For starters, the Chargers play a schedule that is loaded with larger schools such as Division 1 foes Grand Blanc, Davision, Carman-Ainsworth, Flushing, Midland and Lapeer as well as defending Division 2 state champion Detroit Country Day.
On top of that, five of the Chargers' losses were by one goal, another was by two and don't forget about those three ties.
So they’ve been close to winning many of the games they failed to win.
Now, getting back to the Division 3 championship game -- which the Chargers won two years ago -- might be asking a lot at this point but they certainly made a believer Monday out of Montrose coach Jason Perrin, who thinks Powers can make some noise in the district final and beyond.
“When you’re battle tested … they’ve been in some absolute wars and that counts for a lot,” said Perrin, who led Montrose’s girls to the 2016 Division 4 title game before they lost a 1-0 shootout against two-time champion Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett.
“They’ve got the skills, the talent, to make that run.”
Scoring goals has been the main thing that’s held Powers back all season.
The Chargers have been shut out six times and scored one goal in three other games.
But offense wasn't an issue against Montrose as they took a 3-0 lead before the game was 10 minutes old after Aaron Maiorana, Luke Hendler and Nick Navarre scored in a span of 73 seconds.
The Chargers built the lead to 6-0 at halftime and the ended it via the mercy rule 10 minutes into the second half.
The eight goals were twice as many as Powers scored in any other game this season.
Coaches often like to see close games in the tournament to get their teams prepared for tight games but this wasn't one of those occasions, according to Powers coach Tony Rowe.
“I’m glad actually that we started rolling and won by a pretty good margin,” said Rowe, who led Powers to state titles in 2013 and 2017. "We haven’t been able to score and that’s kind of been the issue lately, putting the ball in the back of the net. We’ve been close.
"A lot of those 1-0 games … I think we've had the majority of the chances. Just haven't been able to put one home. We were able to put them home early and often today. I think it gives us the confidence that we have the ability to score and score a lot.
"But we just have to … execute and that's what we did today."
Will Tucker, Gabe Zick, Luke Mattar, Zephaniah Turner and Brent Zloto also scored for Powers while Brandt Sanchez recorded the shutout.
Regardless of what happens the rest of this season, Rowe figures the experience his team gets will bode well for the future since only 11 of the 23 players in uniform vs. Montrose are seniors.
Four of the Chargers starters are sophomores or juniors, the top reserves are non-seniors and three of Monday’s goal scorers -- Maiorana, Zick and Mattar -- will be back for at least one more year on the varsity.
"We have at least six or seven guys that were on the team in 2017 when we won and they know what it takes to get to the last game," Rowe said. "And I think those guys are instilling it into the juniors and sophomores who are on the team now."
The Chargers will play Unionville-Sebewaing (18-4-2) at 4 p.m. Thursday for a spot in the regional semifinals Oct. 22 at Atwood.
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