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The UTEP soccer team (4-5) will kick off its 10-game Conference USA slate when it plays at Southern Miss (6-2) at 12 p.m. MT Sunday.

“We are starting a new season now, Conference USA play, on the road versus Southern Miss who has the second best record in the league,” UTEP head coach Kevin Cross said. “Southern Miss is very balanced in that they score a lot of goals and also have a great defense. We will have to play our best soccer to get a positive result on the road versus a good team. We feel very confident in our abilities and look forward to the challenge.”

Going Back In Time
UTEP extended its winning streak to four while closing non-conference play on a high note with an 8-0 throttling of NCAA Division II program New Mexico Highlands on Sept. 13. Seven different Miners scored in the tilt.

Series History Vs. Southern Miss
UTEP is 9-1 all-time against Southern Miss, including winning the past eight match-ups with the Lady Eagles. When playing on the road in the series the Miners lead, 3-1, aided by a 3-2 double-overtime victory during the 2015 season. Last year UTEP successfully defended its home pitch by securing a 5-0 victory on Oct. 28, 2016. This is the first time the Miners are facing USM in the league opener.

Brief Rundown On The Lady Eagles
Southern Miss is off to a 6-2-0 start on the season, with the only losses of the year coming at the hands of Houston (4-1, Sept. 8) and Ole Miss (8-0, Sept. 3). The Lady Eagles have bounced back with back-to-back wins since, including a ridiculous 10-0 trouncing of Jackson State last time out. Becky McMullan (five goals, three assists, 113 points) paces the attack but Ola Akinniyi (three goals), Kierstin Bradley (three goals) Beth Coleman and Mariana Mejia (two) also have multiple goals. Miah Zuazua has been credited with a team-high four assists. Kelly Brahmbhatt has logged the bulk of time in net, recording 16 saves on the season and a perfect 6-0-0 record.

Big Win
UTEP smoked DII program New Mexico Highlands, 8-0, on Sept. 13. It marked the largest shutout victory at the school since an 11-0 conquest of Grambling State in 2006. Additionally the eight goals tied as the eighth most in a single game in program history. Seven different Miners scored in the contest.

Going Streaking
UTEP is riding a four game winning streak, outscoring the opposition by a count of 15-2 in those four contests. Eleven of the 15 goals have come from freshmen, with four each by Vic Bohdan and Anna Jimmerson, a pair from Cayla Payne and one by April Pate. There have been two shutouts in the stretch with Alyssa Palacios (22) and Dynastee Cain (two) combining to make 24 saves on 26 shots on goal in the four contests.

Turning It Around
After dropping its first five matches, including four in overtime or double overtime, UTEP has turned things around to go 4-0-0 since. The Miners have outscored the opposition by a count of 15-2 in the dominating sequence, which has allowed them to close non-conference play on a four-game winning streak. It marks the second time in three years that UTEP will head to league play having peeled off at least four consecutive victories. In 2015 the Miners won their final five non-league matches.

Offense Coming Alive
UTEP scored three goals on 22 shots on goal over the first five games of the season, four of which went to overtime. To their credit the Miners have made some adjustments and the offense has come alive in the past four contests. UTEP has tallied 15 goals in 33 shots on goal in four contests since, with at least two strikes in each of the matches. Helping give those numbers a big boost was the 8-0 whitewashing of New Mexico Highlands on Sept. 13.

Defense Is Too
The Miners conceded nine goals (1.80 goals per game) over the first five contests of the year but they have tightened things up since. In the four matches since, all UTEP wins, foes have managed a total of two tallies (0.50 goals per game).

Two-Headed Attack
Freshmen Anna Jimmerson (five-first C-USA/24th nation) and Vic Bohdan (four-seventh C-USA/61st nation) have accounted for nine of the Miners’ 18 goals on the year. Danielle Carreon, Kennadie Chaudhary and Cayla Payne each have two goals to their credit. Bohdan also paces the squad in assists (four-second C-USA/32nd nation), points (12-second C-USA/29th nation), shots (24) and shots on goal (12. Jimmerson is second on the team for points (10-seventh C-USA/62nd nation) and shots on goal (11).

Freshmen Firepower
Freshmen Anna Jimmerson (five-first C-USA/24th nation) and Vic Bohdan (four-seventh C-USA/61st nation)) have proven to be the top scoring threats for the Miners in 2017. The last time UTEP had a freshman pace the team in goals scored was 2006 with Tameka Sumter (13). You have to go back to 2004 to find the last time the top-two spots were held by freshmen when Jami Tullius and Cara Nordin each recorded 10 goals.
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Save The Day
Alyssa Palacios has compiled 54 saves (first C-USA/third nation) in 2017 (6.00 saves/match-second C-USA/33rd nation), including a career-high tying 10 stops against New Mexico on Aug. 27. Her career total now stands at 297 saves which pushed her into third place on the Miner charts. The record holder is Amanda Smith (438; 1996-99) while Sarah Dilling (317; 2011-14) occupies second place. Palacios started the year in fourth place, but has since surpassed Brittany Poppoff (270; 2004-07).

Start Her Up
Junior GK Alyssa Palacios has started the first nine matches of the season, playing a total of 848:06 minutes (first C-USA/first nation). That has elevated her to 51 starts in as many matches since joining UTEP. The effort has allowed her to move from fifth place into fourth place on the UTEP career charts. Brittany Popoff (56; 2004-07) sits in third place.

Working Overtime
For the first time in program history UTEP went to overtime in four straight contests to start the season. Overall the Miners have played overtime soccer five times so far in 2017. The five OT games already ties as the fifth most on the Miner single-season charts.

Freshmen Power In OT
Redshirt-freshman Cayla Payla hammered home a cross from true freshman Vic Bohdan to lift the Miners to a 2-1 overtime win at Idaho State on Sept. 3. It marked the first time in program history that UTEP had an OT winner where both the goal scorer and individual credited with an assist were both freshmen.

Close Calls
For the third time in program history (2008, 2015) the first four matches of the season were decided by one goal or less. Overall there have been six one-goal outcomes.

Youth Served
Even though the Miners returned 13 letter winners, including six starters, they are notably young in 2017. Of the 27 student-athletes on the roster, 20 are either freshmen (12) or sophomores (eight). There are only three seniors and four juniors.

Cross Joins Club 200
In his 17th year as the Miners’ head coach Kevin Cross has joined an exclusive club in UTEP Athletics history. At 201-113-23 he is the fifth head coach in Miner sports history to reach 200 career wins at the school (reached it with 2-1 victory vs. Stephen F. Austin on Sept. 10, 2017). Previously Don Haskins (men’s basketball, 719-354), Norm Brandl (volleyball, 355-337), Keitha Adams (women’s basketball, 284-209) and co-head coaches James and Kathleen Rodriguez (softball, 211-325) achieved the feat. Cross also has the fourth-most tenured run by a Miner head coach. He trails Haskins (37 years), Jere Pelletier (women’s golf, 22 years and counting) and Bob Kitchens (track & field, 22 years).

Trailing Only Haskins
Not only has Kevin Cross joined the 200+ win club at UTEP (did so with 2-1 win vs. Stephen F. Austin on Sept. 10, 2017), he has done so in style. His winning percentage stands at 62.9 percent (201-113-23). That figure trails only Hall of Fame Coach Don Haskins (men’s basketball) among the 200+ victory UTEP head coach club. Haskins had a 67.0 winning percentage (719-354) in his 37 seasons roaming the sidelines.

The Basic Facts
UTEP is in its 22nd season as a program, boasting an all-time record of 243-161-30. The Miners are under the direction of 17th-year head coach Kevin Cross, who sports a mark of 201-113-23 in that time frame. He is assisted by two former Miners (Heather Clark and Jessie Pettit).

Road Warriors
In 2017 the Miners hope to continue an unprecedented string of success on the road. Last year they went 5-4 in road matches to extend the school-record streak of a winning road record to four straight seasons. Overall they are a combined 22-14-3 on the road in that stretch, including 1-2 in 2017.

RPI Success
One of the best ways to measure a team’s worth across the board is the RPI, and that’s an area UTEP has thrived in. The Miners have produced a top-100 RPI in five of the eight past seasons and 10 times total under Kevin Cross, including a program-best 31 in 2005. Additionally, the Miners have secured a spot in the NSCAA Central Region top-10 poll in 11 of the past 13 seasons.

Matter Of Consistency
The Miners have averaged 12 wins while appearing in three conference title games and one NCAA tournament (2005, second round) under Kevin Cross. UTEP is one of 12 programs nationwide (325+ programs) to have hit 10+ wins in each year since 2002. Joining the Miners are Boston College, Florida, Florida State, North Carolina, North Texas, Notre Dame, Penn State, Stanford, Texas A&M, Virginia and West Virginia.

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LAROMIE, Wy.- Cayla Payne (35’) scored her first collegiate goal and the UTEP soccer team battled but it couldn’t overcome a sluggish start in an eventual 3-1 loss at Wyoming Friday afternoon.

The homestanding Cowgirls (2-2) received three early goals from Summer Halle (12’) and Brittney Stark (15’, 26’) to grab a 3-0 lead 26 minutes in and the Miners (0-5) could never fully recover.

Shots were 13-10, including 7-3 for shots on goal, in favor of Wyoming while corners were, 4-4. Junior GK Alyssa Palacios recorded four saves in the match.

“We were disappointed in our first half effort,” UTEP head coach Kevin Cross said. “We will respond on Sunday. We have nine players injured, which makes it tough. We will work harder and get will in time.”

Vic Bohdan got the Miners off to a good start by peppering Wyoming GK Georgia Rowntree with a shot that forced her to make a save in just the fifth minute of the match.

The home side’s first opportunity of the match came in the 12th minute off a corner kick, and it capitalized. The ball was played into the box where it was batted around before Halle finished the sequence. Less than three minutes later Stark was able to best Palacios to put UTEP in a 2-0 hole.

In the 16th minute the Miners raced up the pitch in an attempt to cut into the deficit but Bohdan’s blast whistled wide.
Stark was back at work for Wyoming in the 27th minute, putting away her second chance of the match to make it 3-0 in favor of the home side. Off the kickoff the ball got worked ahead to Danielle Carreon but her shot attempt went wide of the frame.

UTEP generated some sustained pressure in the 33rd minute with a shot from Kennadie Chaudhary being blocked over the line for a corner kick. The Miners couldn’t convert on the chance, but just two minutes later they did just that with Payne hammering home the opportunity off a corner kick.

Rowentree (37’) and Palacios (38’) each came up with saves in a back-and-forth minute of action following the UTEP goal before play settled back down the remainder of the stanza.

Alisha Bass started the attack for the home side in the second half but Palacios was up to task for a brilliant save that forced a corner kick. UTEP defended the sequence nicely, keeping a tight watch on Taylor Burton. Her headed attempt was then errant.

The Miners went on the offensive for the first time of the second half with Jeanna Mullen doing the honors. Her shot, though, was wide.

In the 63rd minute UTEP earned a corner kick but a foul on the Orange and Blue negated any scoring chance. Eight minutes later another corner kick for the Miners gave Lauren Crenshaw a look but she fired the shot high.

Palacios was called upon again in the 79th minute, denying Bass.

Anna Jimmerson made a good move to get some space to work with but she rifled the shot high in the 83rd minute. A minute later it was Crenshaw with the chance, but this one too went high.

The Miners will look to bounce back when they play at Idaho State at 1 p.m. MT Sunday.

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Junior Alyssa Palacios recording a career-high tying 10 saves but visiting New Mexico received a golden goal from Jill Olguin (93’) to hand UTEP a 1-0 overtime loss at University Field Sunday afternoon.

It marked the first time in program history that the Miners (0-4) have gone to overtime in four straight contests to start a year. Overall it is the initial occasion since 2014 and third time ever that UTEP has played four consecutive OT games.

“This is about as a cruel as a soccer season to go through,” UTEP head coach Kevin Cross said. “The defensive side of things is pretty strong. We’ve got to start generating opportunities and putting away the ones we’ve had. The first three games we clearly had opportunities to win; not as much today. That’s where we need to grow in that area.”

The Lobos (2-2) outshot UTEP, 23-7, including 11-2 for shots on goal while corner kicks were 8-5 for UNM.

In the eighth minute there was outstanding sustained pressure by the Miners to garner four straight corner kicks but UNM fended them all off.

There was a good sequence of soccer for UTEP in the 20th minute but play was whistled dead from an offside call.

In the 24th minute UNM’s Eileen Zendejas had a point-blank shot but there was an outstanding save from Palacios, who went to her knees to make the save, almost like a hockey GK.

UTEP had a good chance off a free kick in the 29th minute but UNM was able to clear it away before the Miners got a shot. Ten minutes later there was a nice little flurry for the Miners with a long run by Lauren Crenshaw eventually leading to a corner kick. UTEP then created two shots off the sequence but to its credit the UNM defense was able to block both chances away before getting on frame.

Five minutes into the second half there was a spin-around shot with the left foot by Kennadie Chaudhary but the UNM GK wasn’t fooled and made the save.

In the 57th minute there was a sensational diving save by Palacios on another Zendejas shot. UNM got a corner kick as result but UTEP defended it well and couldn’t generate anything as result. In the 65th minute she was called upon again, delivering a pair of saves within the span of a minute. The saves came on respective shots by Casey Murphy and Zendejas.

There was good positioning and touch on a header by Danielle Carreon but the UNM GK was ready and made the save. UNM then launched a counter attack with Cami Floth firing a shot but Palacios made the save. In the 79th minute Palacios came up a stop off a header in the box. It was her 10th of the contest, which matched her career high at that point.

The Miners had an outstanding chance off a free kick in the 85th minute but the shot from Carleigh Simmons whistled just high of the frame.

In OT Olguin was fed a ball by Zendejas. She took one touch and fired a low, hard shot that Palacios got her gloves on but couldn’t quite corral.

The Miners will look to bounce back when they open up a two-game road swing at Wyoming at 4:30 p.m. MT Friday.

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Photos & Gallery by Andres Acosta, Chief Photographer El Paso Herald-Post

UTEP will continue its three-game homestand by playing host to CSU Bakersfield at 7 p.m. MT Friday and I-25 rival New Mexico at 1 p.m. Sunday.

Friday will have the annual pre-game UTEP Soccer Alumni Association tailgate starting at 5:30 p.m. with free food from Rudy’s Country Store and Bar-B-Q while supplies last.

Additionally, all kids (12 and under) will get in free and there will be a post-game autograph session. As part of “Jersey Day” on Aug. 27, all individuals who wear a soccer jersey will receive free admission.

“UTEP Soccer is ready for an incredible weekend of soccer at University Field,” UTEP head coach Kevin Cross said. “The Alumni Association tailgate sponsored by Rudy’s Barbecue is one of the very best events of the year that we really look forward to. We appreciate the Alumni Association and Rudy’s support of UTEP Soccer. How can you beat free barbecue and great soccer! CSU Bakersfield is an excellent program with a great coach and great culture. We tied them last year, so we know they are a very strong program. On Sunday we have our old rival, New Mexico, back on our schedule after a long absence. They have always had a great program, so we are going to have to be at our top soccer to get a good result. It will be a great weekend for all our UTEP Soccer fans!”

Going Back In Time
UTEP went to overtime in both matches to start the year for the first time since 2014. The Miners dropped their season opener in double overtime at NM State, 2-1, on Aug. 18 while falling by the same score in OT in their home lid lifter against ACU on Aug. 20.

Series History Vs. CSU Bakersfield
The two sides are meeting for the second consecutive campaign. Last year the Miners and Roadrunners battled to a scoreless draw in California.

Brief Rundown On The Roadrunners
CSU Bakersfield is off to a 1-1 start, scoring at least three goals in both of the games. Alexa Orrante (two goals, two assists) and Aryana Harvey (two goals) features a balanced attack which has received goals from six different players. The Roadrunners have outshot foes, 46-22, including 20-12 in shots on goal. CSUB lost its opener to Sam Houston State, 4-3, on Aug. 18 before bouncing back to rout Prairie View A&M, 5-0, on Aug. 20.

Series History Vs. New Mexico
UTEP is 5-3-1 all-time against its I-25 rivals, although the two programs haven’t squared off since the 2007 season. The Miners and Lobos played annually from 1996-02 but then not again until 2006 and 2007. When locking up in El Paso the Orange and Blue stand

Brief Rundown On The Lobos
New Mexico was upended in its opener to San Francisco on Aug. 18 before bouncing back to shut out Grand Canyon, 1-0, last time out on Aug. 20. Emily Chavez and Claire Lynch have scored the goals for the Lobos, both of which came in the first half. The Lobos have controlled tempo, outshooting foes 39-19, including 13-7 in shots on goal. They also hold a significant advantage in corner kicks (14-3).

It’s Been A Long While
The Miners have dropped back-to-back matches to start the year for the first time since 2000, the season before Kevin Cross assumed the head coaching position.

Team Of Character
The Miners have a proven track record of bouncing back under Kevin Cross. UTEP stands 5-0-1 since 2013 when entering a match on a two-game winless skid.

Balanced Attack
Danielle Carreon (one goal), Kennadie Chaudhary (one goal), Vic Bohdan (one assist), Isabel Trevino (one assist) and Aylin Villalobos (one assist) all got involved offensively to start the season.

Save The Day
Alyssa Palacios recorded at least five saves in back-to-back games to start the season. She now has 254 stops in her career to rank fourth on the Miner all-time charts. Up next for Palacios to pass is Brittany Popoff, who recorded 270 saves during her career from 2004-07.

Start It Up
Junior GK Alyssa Palacios started the first two matches of the season, giving her 44 starts in as many matches since the start of her UTEP career. With her next start, presumably Friday against CSUB, she will pull into a tie for fourth with former Miner GK Chandra Morden (2008-11).

Youth Served
Even though the Miners have 13 letter winners returning, including six starters, they are notably young in 2017. Of the 27 student-athletes on the roster, 20 are either freshmen (12) or sophomores (eight). There are only three seniors and four juniors.

Looking At The Line-Up
Eight Miners (Vic Bohdan-Fr., Hannah Burbank-Fr., Lauren Crenshaw-So., Kennadie Chaudhary-Sr., Jeanna Mullen-Sr., Cayla Payne-R-Fr., Alyssa Palacios-Jr., and Payton Ross-Jr.,) started both matches last weekend while seven others also appeared in each of the contests. Overall 21 student-athletes, including 14 underclassmen, have seen action thus far.

Closing In On Club 200
In his 17th year as the Miners’ head coach Kevin Cross has a record of 197-110-23, putting him on the cusp of joining an exclusive club in UTEP Athletics lore. With three more victories Cross will become the fifth head coach in Miner sports history to reach 200 career wins at the school. Previously Don Haskins (men’s basketball, 719-354), Norm Brandl (volleyball, 355-337), Keitha Adams (women’s basketball, 284-209) and co-head coaches James and Kathleen Rodriguez (softball, 211-325) achieved the feat. Cross also has the fourth-most tenured run by a Miner head coach. He trails Haskins (37 years), Jere Pelletier (women’s golf, 22 years and counting) and Bob Kitchens (track & field, 22 years).

Trailing Only Haskins
Not only has Kevin Cross put himself on the cusp of the 200+ win club at UTEP, he has done so in style. His winning percentage entering 2017 stands at 63.6 percent (197-108-23). That figure would trail only Hall of Fame Coach Don Haskins (men’s basketball) among the 200+ victory UTEP head coach club. Haskins had a 67.0 winning percentage (719-354) in his 37 seasons roaming the sidelines.

There’s No Place Like Home
The enthusiasm and passion for UTEP by Coach Cross has helped him build a loyal fan base, which has made University Field one of the toughest places to play at in the country. The Miners have forged a mark at home of 119-30-10 since 2002, including 0-1-0 this year.

The Basic Facts
UTEP is in its 22nd season as a program, boasting an all-time record of 239-156-30. The Miners are under the direction of 17th-year head coach Kevin Cross, who sports a mark of 197-110-23 in that time frame. He is assisted by two former Miners (Heather Clark and Jessie Pettit).

RPI Success
One of the best ways to measure a team’s worth across the board is the RPI, and that’s an area UTEP has thrived in. The Miners have produced a top-100 RPI in five of the eight past seasons and 10 times total under Kevin Cross, including a program-best 31 in 2005. Additionally, the Miners have secured a spot in the NSCAA Central Region top-10 poll in 11 of the past 13 seasons.

Matter Of Consistency
The Miners have averaged 12 wins while appearing in three conference title games and one NCAA tournament (2005, second round) under Kevin Cross. UTEP is one of 12 programs nationwide (325+ programs) to have hit 10+ wins in each year since 2002. Joining the Miners are Boston College, Florida, Florida State, North Carolina, North Texas, Notre Dame, Penn State, Stanford, Texas A&M, Virginia and West Virginia.

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Alyssa Palacios made six saves while senior Kennadie Chaudhary registered a goal (41′) but visiting Abilene Christian spoiled UTEP’s by toppling the Miners, 2-1, in overtime.

Sam Vestal (30′) and Dylan Owens (93′) scored for the Wildcats, who were outshot 14-13.

The youth-laden Miners have dropped back-to-back matches to start the year for the first time since 2000, the season before Kevin Cross assumed the head coaching position. Furthermore, it is the initial occasion in program history to have consecutive overtime losses. UTEP was upended in double OT at NM State Friday.

“I thought we played a better game than we did on Friday” Cross said. “We played pretty good soccer and just had a little bit of bad luck to be honest. Credit to them on that counter attack. We had a few chances that we could have scored and played pretty good.”

In the sixth minute the Miners did good work to earn a corner kick. The ball was batted around in the box but UTEP couldn’t generate a shot. Nine minutes later off a free kick the Miners found Jeanna Mullen for a header. But to her credit, the ACU GK Erin Smith was able to make the save.

In the 19th minute it was a nice idea by Devyn Hunley to put a shot on target but it was blocked away by the defense. The Miners earned a corner out of the sequence but they couldn’t convert. Midway through the stanza ACU generated its second shot on goal of the game but Palacios displayed top form by making the save.

The Wildcats got on the board thanks to a corner kick by Vestal in the 30th minute. She sent a service into the area with serious English on the ball; Palacios’s punch attempt unfortunately redirected into the goal to give the visitors the lead. It was short lived, with 11 minutes later the Miners finding the equalizer.

Off a corner kick, Villalobos got it to Trevino, whose header went to Chaudhary. The senior then headed it home to pull the home side even at one.

Early in the second half the Miners created two shots in a three minute span, including one by Lauren Crenshaw that led to a corner kick. The pressure didn’t, however, pay dividends.

In the 68th minute and the sun now bearing down on University Field, from inside the box the goal scorer for ACU Vestal fired a low shot net but Palacios denied it. The Miners initiated a nice counter attack, eventually leading to a sweet counter attack for Chaudhary but she was robbed by Smith with a diving stop.

UTEP displayed outstanding set piece execution in the 75th minute with Villalobos threading the needle to a cutting Valentine. Her header, though, was saved. Ten minutes later there was a sneaky left-footed flick by Dynastee Cain from point-blank range but it inched just wide of the frame.

There was a great chance off a giveaway but unlucky strike by Valentine, and her shot sails wide of the net.

The Miners generated a chance early in OT but Mullen’s blast went wide. ACU then countered, and capitalized with the match winner.

UTEP will continue its three-game homestand by playing host to CSU Bakersfield at 7 p.m. MT Friday and I-25 rival New Mexico on Aug. 27. Friday will have the annual pre-game UTEP Soccer Alumni Association tailgate starting at 5:30 p.m. with free food from Rudy’s Country Store and Bar-B-Q while supplies last.

Additionally, all kids (12 and under) will get in free and there will be a post-game autograph session. As part of “Jersey Day” on Aug. 27, all individuals who wear a soccer jersey will receive free admission.

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LAS CRUCES, N.M.–  Sophomore Danielle Carreon scored her second career goal (31’) while junior Alyssa Palacios recorded five saves but homstanding NM State received goals from Devin Hart (87’) and Audriana Chavez (105’) to post a 2-1 double overtime win in the First Light Federal Credit Union Battle of I-10.

Vic Bohdan was credited with an assist on Carreon’s tally, which gave the Miners a 1-0 lead midway through the first half. Palacios and company looked to make it stand up but the home side, spurred on by 1,020 fans, found the equalizer with about three minutes to play in regulation and then won it in the second overtime period.

The Miners started seven underclassmen (four freshmen and three sophomores).

“I’m just really disappointed,” UTEP head coach Kevin Cross said. “You know we had the game with three minutes left. That’s a tough way to lose to give up a late goal and lose in double overtime. We have no excuses. Abilene Christian (Sunday’s opponent) works their tails off so we are going to have to work harder.”

The Aggies earned a pair of corner kicks in the first six minutes but the Miner stop troops held strong and didn’t yield a shot in the sequence. UTEP then launched a counter attack that led to a great chance for Natalie Valentine in the eight minute. She timed her run perfectly to get in behind the defense but her shot eked just wide of the frame.

In the 13th minute a good look by Jeanna Mullen forced NM State GK Dmitri Fong to block it wide, setting up a Miner corner kick but NM State defend. Four minutes later another rush by the Orange and Blue was wipe out by an offside call.

The homeside came up with a good sequence to register two shots on frame but Palacios delivered two stellar saves in a span of a minute to keep the match scoreless. The Miners were determined to change that, and did just that eight minutes later.

Off a cross, Bohdan found a streaking Carreon who buried it past a helpless Fong to put the Miners on the board. UTEP nearly made it 2-0 in the waning minutes of the stanza but Fong punched away a service off a free kick.

The two sides traded offensive opportunities over the first 15 minutes of the second half with both keepers called upon to make a pair of saves. Also of note in that time was sweeper Payton Ross, who had played every minute of every match her first two years in a UTEP uniform, being forced to sub off due to a health issue.

Play settled down then, with neither side again recording a shot on goal until the 77th minute when Anna Jimmerson’s rocket was pushed away by Fong. Devyn Hunley then sent the ensuing corner kick, one of five in the game for the Orange and Blue, into the area but it was not to be.

The Aggies managed one final rush late and came up with the equalizer before eventually also netting the golden goal.

The Miners will wrap up the opening weekend of action by playing host to Abilene Christian in their home opener at 1 p.m. Sunday. It will be the “Camper Reunion” game, with Miner soccer academy members getting in free. There will also be posters given away, prize packs, autographed gear and mini soccer balls.

The contest marks the start of a three-game homestand, with CSU Bakersfield (Aug. 25) and New Mexico (Aug. 27) also on tap.

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