In the boys’ soccer Capital District Championship game, Lee-Davis’ Eduardo Lopez got the Confederates off to a good start with a 1-0 lead but Atlee’s Ben Anderson scored two goals to lead the Raiders back to a 3-1 win.

Matt Pennington kicked in the other goal for the Raiders.

Though down early, the Raider’s never flinched. “We know goals are going to score against us,” Anderson said. “We just got to come back and play.”

Atlee head coach Steve Thompson agreed. “We came back, persevered, came on through.”

Throughout most of the season, the Lee-Davis soccer team has been ranked among the region’s Top-10, while Atlee has sat in the shadows.

Thompson said his players felt as if they have been over-looked. “A little bit,” Thompson said, but understandably so. “They got a new coach. They had a so-so season last year.”

Anderson agreed with his coach’s comments. “At the beginning of the season, we didn’t start so well,” he said. “I feel like for the last four weeks we’ve built and built and built. We’re riding high right now.”

“These guys came out and they were ready to play and I give them all the credit in the world for where we’re at,” Thompson said.

For Anderson, who was named district player of the year, the win was big. “It was huge,” he said. “They were undefeated the first time we played them. It just feels great to win.”

Until they visited Atlee at the beginning of last week, Lee-Davis was undefeated. Since that time they have lost to Atlee in three of their last four games.

Lee-Davis head coach Ed Kidder does not feel that his team peaked too early. “That would imply that we reached a level and we dropped,” he said. “We just haven’t got to a higher level. Atlee outplayed us tonight, if not physically, mentally.”

Though they have lost thee of their last four games to Atlee, Kidder said his Confederates can take one thing positive going into regional play. “At least it will be nice to see somebody different,” he said. “The 100 percent effort you saw out of some players, you’re going to have see out of 11, 12 or 13, we’re going to have some players coming off the bench. It’s not a feat that we can’t do, it’s just we have to do it quick.”

Ed Kidder was named coach of the year.

With the district title win, Atlee will open regional play by hosting James River on Tuesday May 29 at 7:30 p.m. Lee-Davis will travel to Cosby for a 7 p.m. match up. The winners will advance top play at Atlee on Thursday, May 29.

Lee-Davis—————————- 1 0 - 1
Atlee———————————- 1 2 - 3
LD: Lopez
A: Anderson 2, Pennington
Saves: Cook (L-D) 3; McCabe (A) 4
Records: Lee-Davis 15-3; Atlee 12-4-1