ROCKINGHAM — The Hamlet Middle School girls’ soccer team pulled off an upset win in Thursday’s county championship game against rival Rockingham Middle School.
The No. 2 Lady Red Rams earned a 1-0 victory over the No. 1 Lady Rockets, and the game was played on Richmond Senior High School’s field.
It was the third time the teams met this spring, and the first time Hamlet defeated Rockingham.
Head coach Ashleigh Buie and the Lady Red Rams finished the season with a 4-3 record, while coach Asheley Turner and Rockingham capped a 6-1 campaign.
“This was a really special win for us, especially for all of the eighth graders who I coached when they were sixth graders,” Buie said. “I left for Tennessee last year, but to come back and win the championship is really cool.”
Scoring the game’s only goal was Nevaeh Harris, a center back on Hamlet’s defense, which was also her first goal of the season.
With the game scoreless heading into the final stretch, Harris booted a ball from 30 yards out that skipped past the defense and into the back of the net with 15:57 left in regulation.
Nevaeh Harris, who scored the game-winning goal, clears the ball during the second half. (Kyle Pillar)
Both teams played evenly for the majority of the game, and Rockingham outshot Hamlet six to two in the opening 30 minutes. Hanna Smith had several of those shots for Rockingham, but goalkeeper Quanna Bostic made the saves.
Following Harris’ goal, the Lady Rockets turned up the pressure in the game’s final eight minutes. Bostic made a save on a shot from Smith and then made a sliding stop on a charging Ella Gibson in the box with five minutes to play.
Smith struck again a minute later with a chip shot on frame, but Bostic made another grab to keep the shutout intact.
In the closing 90 seconds, Rockingham’s Cadence Gazoo sent a shot wide left and Jamyia Lindsey took a free kick that was deflected wide by a wall of defenders just before time expired.
Hamlet goalkeeper Quanna Bostic makes a sliding save against Ella Gibson (12) in the second half of Thursday’s title win. (Kyle Pillar)
“Neveah really pushed up when I needed her to,” assistant coach Nolan Allen said. “She hadn’t scored all year and for her to score meant a lot to her and the team. It’s exciting to win the championship, and we have to give props to Rockingham — they’re a really good team.
“Quanna is the MVP of this season, and she gave it everything today,” he closed. “She’s a true leader, I’m proud of her, and I expect big things when she comes to Richmond.”
Hamlet has won several in-county championships this school year, including: football, boys’ basketball, boys’ and girls’ cross country, golf and now boys’ and girls’ soccer.
