Lady Choctaws soccer looks to improve on postseason finishes

New Dyer County Girls Soccer Head Coach Stephen Goodman (right) looks to help lead the Lady Choctaws to more success during his first season as the team’s head coach.

Photo/Jason Peevyhouse

By JASON PEEVYHOUSE

Sports Editor

With the 2024 regular season getting underway a little early for the Dyer County Lady Choctaw soccer team, new head coach Stephen Goodman said he feels like the transition period between the end of the TSSAA-mandated dead period has been going well.

“The girls are doing great,” Goodman said. “Definitely different experience than the boys team.

“We've got a good group of girls here. Good group of Lady Choctaws. I think we're going to have a great season.”

Goodman, who was named the head coach of the boys program early this spring and the girls program's new skipper shortly after, has coaching experience in girls' soccer at the YMCA-age level.

Over the course of the past month, Goodman said he has seen a lot of the players on the roster buy into what he and his staff are trying to do.

“We've got a pretty good group of freshman that have moved in,” Goodman added. “The girls are bonding.”

Much like what he planned for the boys program during the spring, building a culture is one of the high priorities on his list for the Lady Choctaw team.

“Number one, you have to have stepping stones and one of the first ones is people wanting to be here,” the new head coach explained. “I haven't had too much trouble and, of course, everybody's going to take their time at the beach.

“For the most part, we've had really good turn out at practice. I'm happy with the participation and production so far.”

One of the bigger obstacles, especially in the last couple of weeks, has been being able to avoid the high temperatures and heat index to get practices in.

“It has been a battle with the temperature,” Goodman said. “You want to practice when it's warm – like it's going to be during the games. But, you don't want to get anybody overheated or have heat injuries.”

The Lady Choctaws have a quartet of seniors at the top of their roster this season.

Leading the way for Dyer County's seniors is Anna Hampton, who has been an offensive spark for the Lady Choctaws through her career.

“She's been a big piece of the team for several years now,” Goodman said. “All the girls look up to her and you can definitely tell that.”

Barbara Campos has returned to the field this year after missing her junior season.

“She's doing really well,” Goodman explained. “She's a great communicator. It means a lot for her to be here.”

Briley Walker returns to help anchor the Lady Choctaw defense.

“She's probably the loudest person on the team,” Goodman said. “She is definitely a big part of this team and is a captain.

“She leads the team in a great way and is going to be a big part of our defense.”

Rounding out the senior class is Ashlynn Herman, who was quiet at first, Goodman recalled, but is beginning to open up and turning into a great player.

Dyer County has a small junior class of just two players.

Lenon Brooks scored a lot of goals last year.

“We expect her to score a lot of goals,” Goodman said.

Returning to the goalkeeper position after getting the start in the net last season is Major Peevyhouse.

“She's done a lot of learning,” the Lady Choctaws' head coach said. “She went to some camps this year and has really developed. She's really doing a great job and is working on being a great goalie.”

At the sophomore level, Callie Witherington has stepped up according to her head coach.

“I think she is going to do real good this year,” Goodman explained.

Lynnlee Dennis and Blakely Johnson will also see time on the field for the Lady Choctaws.

“Lynnlee is stepping up into an offensive role,” Goodman said. “Blakely, like everybody knows, is a tough girl and a heck of an athlete.”

Zoie Lewellen will also see time on the field this year.

“She's stepped up and that is someone who is always here,” Goodman added. “That's important.”

Dyer County also has a large freshman class and Goodman said their development from middle school to high school players will be very important.

“A lot of them are stepping up and you're going to see them as starters on the field,” Dyer County's head coach said. “They came to us ready to rock and roll.

“Just making sure the rest of the team was here ready to receive them and welcome them in. That's a heck of a freshman class that's come in.”

Goodman said making it further into the district tournament than they have in the past is one of the main goals for the team.

“I think we've got a roster that can definitely do that,” Goodman said. “Pull out some wins and shock some teams. Beat some teams that this team has never beaten before.”

Dyer County opened the season on Monday, falling to Westview 7-0 in Martin. The Lady Chargers reached the TSSAA Class A Semifinals last season. The Lady Choctaws return to action on Tuesday when Dyer County hosts South Gibson in their home and District 13AA opener at 6 p.m. The Lady Hornets were also a state semifinal team last season.