Bingham boys soccer relying on focus, teamwork

By Billy Swartzfager | [email protected] 

The Bingham boys soccer team has been gearing up for the 2017 campaign since tryouts in late February. The returning players have likely been gearing up since last season’s early exit from the Utah 5A State Tournament.

The 2016 Miners took first in Region 3 with a stellar 12-3-1 record. They then went on to suffer a close loss to Mountain Crest, 3-2, which went on to lose to Viewmont, the state champions, in the first round of the postseason.

This season, the team looks to play just as well and hopes the results will be similar to last year’s. The team’s goals include playing at its best and competing for a state title. The players have a long season ahead of them still but have begun the process under second-year head coach Ahmed Bakrim. Bakrim has been coaching club teams for 15 years and spent time playing professionally in Morocco, so the team is learning from a person with a lot of experience and a passion for the game.

The team hopes it will be able to achieve its goals through daily dedication, whether it be at practice or on the field during a game. Each of the team’s practices focus on areas of needed improvement. If the coaches see something during a game, a weakness, the following practice will address what the coaches observed.

Bingham channels a lot of its energy toward playing as a team and supporting one another. The team takes part in a weekly team dinner, where all of the players get together for a meal, which is great for team camaraderie according to assistant coach Trevor Ott.

“This is great for team chemistry,” Ott said. “You can’t just put the 11 most talented players on the field; they have to learn to play together.”

The 2017 Bingham soccer team is led on the field by a few returning players who are expected to contribute big minutes and big plays. Corbin Lowrance, a sophomore, Nate Devenberg, a junior, and Isaiah Cardosa, a senior, are all hard workers who support their teammates on and off of the field. They all exhibit sportsmanship and are great examples for those around them, which all falls in line with the team’s focus, according to coaches.

“The message is to work as a team and support one another—teamwork and staying humble,” Bakrim said.

The Miners approach each day the same way, in practice or in a game. They aren’t concerned with the opponent; players and coaches are more focused on the tasks at hand.

“We don’t get caught up in who we are playing,” Bakrim said. “We just try to stay focused on how we want to play our game and do our best. Focus is a big key, as well as playing until the whistle.”

The team began region play March 17 against West Jordan and will continue playing against region foes throughout April and into May. The Miners believe they have a good strategy for staying on top of their game and achieving some goals.