Dyer County Middle School soccer wins third straight sectional title

The Dyer County Middle School Lady Choctaw soccer team shows off the TMSAA Class A Sectional trophy following their 2-1 win over the Memphis Rise Academy in Thursday night's tournament championship game.

Photo/Jason Peevyhouse

By JASON PEEVYHOUSE

Sports Editor

A year after not being able to play the TMSAA Small Sectional title game last season and for the third year in a row, the Dyer County Middle School girls soccer team has won the sectional championship after defeating Memphis Rise Academy 2-0 on Thursday night at Dyer County High School.

Following a first half which saw Dyer County get multiple shots on goal as well as survive a Rise penalty kick late in the half, the Lady Choctaws wasted little time in the second half getting on the board. An Emily Madison cross off a corner kick found its way to Emma Pearson who banged home the first goal of the game and gave the Lady Choctaws a 1-0 lead in the 32nd minute of action, just two minutes into the second half of play.

“That was beautiful,” Dyer County Head Coach Tucker Stroup said. “Emily has been sending great cross all season.

“I was so glad to see it get finished and in such good style. It was great.”

Dyer County was able to play keep away for the most part but also benefitted from a pair of saves by goalkeeper Bella Eison as well as multiple clears from the defenders in front of her to keep the Lady Choctaw lead at one goal.

The Dyer County offense was able to get a second and insurance goal in the 58th minute off the foot of Addisyn Trout to help give the Lady Choctaws some breathing room.

“We could all breath a little bit when we finally got that second goal,” Stroup admitted. “It was scary until that point.”

After winning last year when their opponent was unable to play, the Dyer County head coach admitted it felt sweeter to win the game on the field on Thursday.

“A thousand times more so,” Stroup explained. “We were all nervous leading up to it. We knew we could do it and hope we pull it through. It was great to see it happen.

“The girls are so excited. They are loving it.”

Dyer County's Emily Madison was named the Sectional Tournament Most Valuable Player following the win.

There is no state tournament in the TMSAA for girls soccer this season so the win on Thursday night brings the Lady Choctaw season to a close with a third straight sectional title. Dyer County also beat Memphis Rise two seasons ago before the tournament was expanded to three rounds.