For the first time in over a decade, the Bingham Miners girls soccer team needed a new head coach. 

They opted for Josh Maxfield, who spent time on both the boys and girls teams at Bingham as an assistant. 

The No. 16 Miners lost 2-0 to 17-seed Westlake Oct. 9 in the 6A state play-in game. 

Coach Maxfield had his girls playing well in early August; they won three of their first four games in preseason with him in charge. 

That’s when the wheels fell off. 

Right as the Miners’ Region 2 campaign started, Bingham lost three of its next four. 

Things would not turn around until after Bingham had suffered a 3-2 loss at Region 2 newcomer Cedar Valley on Sept. 4, a 5-2 shellacking against Riverton at home Sept. 6, and a 4-2 loss to Herriman on Sept. 11, also at home. 

If this sounds like a broken record, the good news is that the Miners almost won Sept. 16 but lost 2-1 at Mountain Ridge. A 4-0 loss to Copper Hills back in South Jordan had to feel humbling Sept. 18. 

The good news? Bingham appeared to figure out how to align after a rough start in which the Miners were 1-5 over their first six games. 

The Miners would get their first win since they last played Salt Lake Academy and won 4-1 by defeating the same team they beat for their first victory in league play. A 1-0 win over the Academy Sept. 23 was narrower this time around, and took until overtime to get. Bergan Anderson had the lone tally for Bingham and Claire Bennion the shutout. 

Two days later on Sept. 25 at Westlake gave the Miners two solid performances in a row in 48 hours; they lost 1-0 but had several chances to tie the game and send it to overtime. 

On four days rest, Bingham was well rested and at home Sept. 30 against Cedar Valley. Bennion was back in goal for the first half and took to the field in the second. She scored once and assisted on senior Tessa Firmage’s goal in a 2-0 win. Junior Norah Obed and Bennion each received half-credit for the shutout. 

For Bingham (6-12, 4-10 Region 2), that victory over Cedar Valley marked the most goals the Miners scored in one game in over three weeks. 

That momentum nearly carried Bingham to a victory at rival Riverton Oct. 2, but the rivals scored in overtime to hand the Miners a 2-1 loss. Riverton struck first, early in the second half of the game. Then Bizzy Cottle tallied for the Miners on an assist by Kenzlie Binks, sending the game into extra time.  

The Miners would close out the regular season needing a win at Herriman Oct. 7. Bingham took a 2-1 victory at their rivals on first half goals from senior Marley Porter, assisted by freshman Ada Smith and senior Bergan Anderson. 

On the season, Smith, Cottle and Porter all scored four goals apiece to lead the Miners, while the freshman Smith led Bingham in assists with four, followed by Binks and Anderson. Scoring two goals apiece for the Miners were Mikelle Walker, Binks, Bennion, Pace and Anderson. Firmage, Sofia Davis and Kara Munsey scored one. Natalia Saechao led the team in shutouts, followed by Bennion and Nora Obed.