High school notes

Raiders' exposure picks up with win

Atlee girls soccer coach Bruce Lovelace prefers the Raiders stay out of the spotlight as long as possible each season.

The Raiders can't escape attention now after handing Mills Godwin its first loss of the season (1-0) last week at Godwin. Even though senior forwards Jordan Roseboro and Lindsey Booth are among the leading scorers in the area, sophomore Kimberly Glymph, a midfielder, netted the game's only goal.

Atlee, which won the Central Region title in 2007 with a victory over Mills Godwin in the final, is 11-0-2 and ranked No. 4 in the Times-Dispatch Top 10.

"We don't have the schedule Godwin has so it was just one game where we played well, and Godwin wasn't at their best," Lovelace said. "Godwin, Cosby, Deep Run, Midlothian and others are still the teams to beat."

The Raiders are tied for first in the Capital District with No. 8 Hanover going into tonight's district title decider at Hanover. The teams tied the first time they met. Atlee's other tie came in the season opener against Clover Hill, which is No. 6 in the rankings.

Before the season began, Lovelace noted the Raiders were strong up front but lacked experience in the back and in goal. Keepers Emily Dietrick (freshman) and Taylor Hoy (sophomore) have combined to give up just five goals this year.

The Raiders also have received a boost from defender Ann O'Toole, a junior.

VHSL and flu

The Virginia High School League continues to be in communication with the Virginia Department of Education Health Services and is monitoring the latest updates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in regard to the swine-flu outbreak.

The VHSL has not postponed any regular-season games or spring championships. The National Federation of State High School Associations recommends that each state association follow the lead of its state and local health departments. - Arthur Utley