Year after year, Howard County produces some of the finest girls soccer in the area, with most every team able to present a formidable challenge to another on any given night. Tuesday's Class 3A East region quarterfinal round provided more evidence.

Atholton stunned county champ and No. 3 River Hill, the region's top seed, with three unanswered goals before hanging on for a 3-2 win. Defending 3A state champion Reservoir, which battled early injuries and a 1-7 start, upended second-seed and No. 7 Centennial, 1-0, to move on.

For Atholton, Selena Chin, Katrina Macadoff and Jenna Brewer scored goals to upset River Hill. The Raiders will next travel to fellow county foe Mount Hebron in the semifinals. Reservoir, which next travels to Stephen Decatur, appears to be peaking at just the right time with last year's valuable playoff experience showing up.

At Centennial, the Gators dominated throughout and got the necessary offense in the second half from senior midifelder Michelle Viegas.