Late penalty kick from Hampton gives DC win on Senior Night

Dyer County's girls soccer team closed out its regular season on Tuesday night and celebrated its four 12th graders before the game with Peabody with a Senior Night Ceremony. Members on the team honored were (from left) Dyer County Head Coach Stephen Goodman, Anna Hampton, Ashlynn Hermann, Briley Walker, Barbara Campos and DCHS Assistant Coach Mickey Goodman.

Photo/Jason Peevyhouse

With the game tied at four goals apiece and time winding down in the second half on Tuesday, Dyer County senior Anna Hampton came up big in the clutch with a penalty kick to give the Lady Choctaws a 6-5 win over Peabody in Newbern.

Fittingly, it was Senior Night for the Dyer County girls soccer program.

“It was epic brother,” Dyer County Head Coach Stephen Goodman said. “Final minute PK to win the last game of the regular season, by a senior captain and on senior night, to end the season with a win total of 6-5 (excluding the North Side Tournament).

“It was all on the line and she pulled it off, and it rounded out her hat trick. Proud of the young ladies for stepping up. Big time athletes live for moments like that.”

As Goodman alluded to, the last-second, game-winning score gave Hampton a hat trick on the final night of the regular season. Teammates Lennon Brooks, Ava Pearson, and Peyton Murphy each added single goals to account for the Lady Choctaw scoring.

Following the game, Goodman talked about his seniors heading into the postseason.

“Ashlynn had probably her best game of the year,” Goodman said of Ashlynn Hermann. “From beginning to end she played like a girl on fire. She has taken the goal kicks this season and her long ball has kept opposition attackers out of the danger zone. She has stepped up in a major way since I first met her.

“Barbara (Campos) motivates everyone to be better. She loves the team and the team loves her back. She handles the ball exceptionally which catches opponents off guard. She has worked like a midfielder building the attack from the defensive line creating opportunities higher up the pitch. Barbara steps up and that's one of our favorite qualities about her.

“Briley is a natural born leader. Briley has acted as the voice of the team. She leads the stretching routines, she leads team prayer before games, and  has the courage to say what her teammates need to hear. Whatever it was that she said at halftime must have been profound as it was clearly pivotal point in the match.”