Linley Dennis (44) catches the ball during the Lady Choctaws’ loss to South Gibson on Tuesday in Newbern.

Photo/Jason Peevyhouse

By JASON PEEVYHOUSE

Sports Editor

The Dyer County girls soccer team fell to 0-2 this year on Tuesday when it lost 9-2 to visiting South Gibson in Newbern.

The Lady Hornets were the second defending semifinal champion the Lady Choctaws faced in their season opener, losing 7-0 to Westview in Martin last week.

South Gibson took a 6-0 lead in the first half before a goal by Alayna Leedy off an assist from Lennon Brooks cut the Lady Hornets’ deficit to 6-1 late in the first half.

Dyer County’s second game began in the 79th minute when Brooks broke free and scored, cutting South Gibson’s lead back to 9-2 at the end of the game.

Stephen Goodman, Dyer County’s new head coach, said he wants his girls to continue to grow after a difficult start to the season.

“Take the little wins where you can,” Goodman explained. “(The Lady Hornets) are a great team. But we didn’t take a mercy decision and came away with a couple of points. We have a lot to build on.”

In the last three regular season games between the Lady Choctaws and the Lady Hornets, Dyer County kept a clean sheet in each of the three games, losing by mercy in one of the three. Freshman Leedy’s goal late in the first period ended a streak of over six periods without a goal for the Lady Choctaws in District 13AA play against South Gibson.

“We have some great freshmen on this team and we are proud of them,” added Goodman.

For Dyer County, the team will be back in action on Monday when the Lady Choctaws host Obion County Central at 6 p.m. in Newbern.