Maeser girls soccer concludes amazing season with tough loss in 2A finals
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- Maeser players console each other after the 2A girls soccer title game against Waterford at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2027.
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- Maeser players pose for a photo with the second-place trophy after the 2A girls soccer title game against Waterford at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2027.
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- Maeser players accept the second-place trophy after the 2A girls soccer title game against Waterford at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2027.
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- Maeser junior Cami Simmons (right) takes the ball up the field during the 2A girls soccer title game against Waterford at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2027.
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- Maeser freshman Ashlynn Johnson kicks the ball during the 2A girls soccer title game against Waterford at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2027.
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- Maeser head coach Dustin Simmons (left) consoles his players after the 2A girls soccer title game against Waterford at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2027.
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- Maeser senior Tess Jorgensen takes a corner kick during the 2A girls soccer title game against Waterford at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2027.
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- Maeser freshman Ashlynn Johnson kicks the ball during the 2A girls soccer title game against Waterford at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2027.
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- Maeser freshman Ellery Garner kicks the ball during the 2A girls soccer title game against Waterford at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2027.
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- Maeser senior Ruby Dunn does a flip throw during the 2A girls soccer title game against Waterford at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2027.
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- Maeser senior Paige Jarman (right) takes a free kick during the 2A girls soccer title game against Waterford at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2027.
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- Maeser freshman Ellery Garner (right) battles for the ball during the 2A girls soccer title game against Waterford at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2027.
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- Maeser freshman Ruth Dredge (left) battles for the ball during the 2A girls soccer title game against Waterford at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2027.
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- Maeser senior Ruby Dunn does a flip throw during the 2A girls soccer title game against Waterford at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2027.
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- Maeser senior keeper Huey Jackson leaps to ensure the ball clears the crossbar during the 2A girls soccer title game against Waterford at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2027.
Maeser head girls soccer coach Dustin Simmons proudly pointed out that the Lion defense was so good this year that it didn’t give up a single run-of-play goal to 2A competition in 2026. During the regular season, with the only goal it conceded to teams in its own classification coming off a free kick.
He knew that mark would be tested against a talented Waterford squad in Saturday’s 2A championship at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman, an opponent Maeser had barely edged 1-0 in 2OT earlier in the year.
The Lion defense rose to the challenge again, limiting the opportunities for the Raven offense and continuing their streak of preventing run-of-play goals.
Unfortunately for Maeser, however, Waterford was able to score the only goal of the game off a set piece, a corner kick redirected into the net by Raven senior Jessica Miller early in the second half.
The Raven defense refused to let the Lions get on the board, resulting in Waterford earning the 1-0 victory and securing the state title.
“These girls worked so hard,” Simmons said after the game. “We played so well. We missed one assignment on a corner kick. If you can score in the first five minutes of the game or the half, it changes the entire complexion of the game. We talked about that at halftime but unfortunately Waterford did that instead of us.”
Even though the scoreboard didn’t show the result Maeser wanted, Simmons said he couldn’t be more proud of how his team battled.
“I can’t say enough about the work ethic and the grit and the determination of the girls, especially these last 20 minutes, just pushing and pushing and pushing,” he said. “Waterford’s a great team. We’ve got a great kind of rivalry going. We beat them in the in the regular season in double overtime. They beat us here today. I hate to see these girls hurting like this, but I love to see what they’ve done and what they’ve become.”
The loss in the title contest in no way diminishes the season the Lions had in 2026 as they finished 18-3 and earned the top seed in the 2A playoffs.
“It’s been phenomenal,” Simmons said. “About halfway through the season, we kind of started thinking, ‘hey, maybe this could be something.’ Our boys’ teams had a lot of success lately and nine of the girls on the team have older brothers who won a state championship last year. I think that kind of inspired them a little bit. So they’ve been working hard, and they’re just good girls.”
He talked about the senior class and how much they put in to getting Lion soccer to the level where it would be one of the best in Class 2A.
“Our senior leadership has been phenomenal,” he said. “They went through some rough times early in their careers. I think the thing that’s been most important for our seniors is the culture that they have continued. We have this saying in our program: ‘honor the tradition and build the legacy.’ Our seniors have done a great job of leaving a legacy now of of service, of compassion, of kindness, and just absolute work ethic. I think that has inspired these younger girls. Now they’re seeing some success, which is exciting for the younger girls. But they are also realizing that they’re having the success because they’re standing on the shoulders of some pretty amazing young women.”
While Maeser will miss the departure of those seniors, Simmons believes this is just the beginning for his squad since he has a number of talented underclassmen to keep things rolling.
“We’ve got a really strong core of juniors who will be back next year, but three of the four players on our backline are freshmen and sophomores,” Simmons said. “They are just so good. I think sophomore Hazel Leeper is the best defender in the state. As these girls have had that experience of playing together, they’ve been able to build on that. I think our our defense, our young defenders, and our maturing midfield really just makes a huge difference.”
