Atlee will make return to state semifinals to defend boys lacrosse title

ROB WITHAM Special correspondent

There can be a ton of distractions in a quest for a championship.

The Atlee boys lacrosse team carried an unbeaten record into Friday’s Class 4 state quarterfinal against Cave Spring of Roanoke. Seniors are approaching commencement, underclassmen are pushing through the final work of the school year.

Even a simple comment from a fan could make one waver. But not Atlee coach Fielding Crawford.

“Had somebody say today, ‘Hey, you’ve got a big game tonight,’” Crawford mentioned. “It’s just a game. The field is the same size, the ball is the same size, whether it’s the first game of the season or a state game.”

That laser focus that showers down from Crawford to his entire team was on full display as the Raiders improved to 18-0 with a 20-2 thumping of the Knights.

Atlee seized the match from the start. The Knights (15-4) won the first faceoff, turned it over, and Ryan Miller made them pay. His first of three goals, all assisted by his brother Kevin, gave Atlee the lead just 31 seconds in. It would be another 7 minutes before Cave Spring had an actual shot opportunity, which they converted on a goal from Carter Jeffords. But by that time, with 4:29 left in the first period, the Raiders led 10-1.

Atlee struggled offensively early in the second period, then went on a 5-0 run beginning with a Thomas Lask goal with 5:19 left in the half and completed when

Caleb Cunningham fired one into the net. The Knights scored with 16 seconds left to make the margin 16-2 at intermission. With a running clock, the Raiders, utilizing their depth, scored twice in each the third and fourth periods, two of the tallies coming from junior Brenton Buchanan.

While the Knights had better offensive opportunities as the match wore on, they were few and far between in comparison to Atlee, whose speed and agility allowed them to simply blow past their opponents in that decisive first stanza.

The path to a second Class 4 state championship will remain at the friendly confines as Atlee will host E.C. Glass, a 13-9 winner Western Albemarle, in the state semifinals Tuesday at 6 p.m.

Hanover Evangelical Friends

6420 Mech Trnpk. 804-730-9512, friendlychurch.org

Worship: Sun. 10:30AM

Sunday School @ 9:15AM

Fairmount Christian Church, 559-8070 6502 Creighton Rd.

Sunday AM Worship Traditional 8:00 & 10:15, Contemporary 9:00, Modern 11:15, Bible School at 9:00, 10:15, & 11:15.

Rick Raines, Senior Minister; Chris Santasiere, Associate Minister; Seth Wortman, Associate Minister; Tracy Thomas, Worship &Music Minister; Bill Nicol, Associate Worship Minister; Davis Ellenberger, Youth Minister; Ashley Sears, Children’s Director fairmountcc.org

Gethsemane Church of Christ

5146 Mechanicsville Turnpike

Sunday AM Worship Services (Check website for times) 804-779-2044

Bill Wines, Senior Minister www.gethsemanechristians.org

Truth Baptist Church, 627-2170

COME & SEE!

All info at: www.truthbaptistchurch.com

St Paul Lutheran Church (LCMS) 427-7500 ∂ 8100 Shady Grove Rd, saintpaul-lcms.com

Rev. Rodney Bitely, Pastor; Sun. Sch. 9:15am, Worship 10:30am

HOPE COMMUNITY CHURCH Home of Atlee Christian Academy & HopeNow Counseling. info & more: www.hopenow.cc

Fairfield Presbyterian Church 6930 Cold Harbor Rd., 23111 8:45 & 11:00am services www.fairfieldpcusa.org

Meadowbridge Seventh-Day Adventist Church

7400 Antique Lane Mech., Saturday Services:

Sabbath School, 9:45 am. Worship Service, 11 am.

Wednesday evening Prayer Meeting, 6:30pm. Church phone: 746-2788 meadowbridgesda.org meadowbridgesdachurch@gmai l.com

Black Creek Baptist Church, 6289 McClellan Road

Sunday School - 9:00 a.m.

Sunday Worship - 10:15 a.m.

Adult Bible Study & Youth Group

Wed. nights at 6:00 p.m. Pastor, Stephen Kendrick blackcreekbaptistchurch.org or call (804)781-0330

Cool Spring Baptist Church 9283 Atlee Station Rd. For info, activities & worship times visit www.coolspring.org or call 746-0800