BOWLING GREEN, Ky – Jojo Ngongo (3’) buried a penalty kick, Vic Bohdan (58’) volleyed home a shot and Mariah Scott recorded a career-high tying six saves to help the UTEP soccer team (4-10) lock down 10-win WKU (10-3) on the road, 2-0, and spoil “Senior Day” Sunday afternoon. The match was designated as nonconference.
The Miners equaled their season high for goals while also notching their third shutout of the campaign.
“I’m proud of the team’s execution of the gameplan and continued response game after the game,” UTEP head coach Kathryn Balogun said. “Character is built in the dark and revealed in difficult games like this one. WKU has had a very good season with a lot of very good players. We wish them best of luck to them the rest of the way.”
UTEP staved off two early corner kicks before flying up the pitch where WKU dragged down Ngongo in the box to afford the Miners a penalty kick. Ngongo calmly stood over the ball before burying the chance with a clinical finish to the lower right corner.
WKU then went on the offensive where Scott turned away a shot by Sophia Fondren in the fifth minute.
Cayman Tamez vied to extend the Miners’ lead to 2-0 in the 14th minute when she crashed the goal from the right wing. GK Alexis Bach cut the angle down effectively to deny the try. Vanessa Cabello made a run in the 24th minute, but Bach recorded the stop. Five minutes later it was Taya Lopez who was turned away.
Eight minutes into the second half, the Orange and Blue did well to stave off consecutive corners. Scott was particularly effective, punching away a service into the area. In the 55th minute, Scott leapt to corral a shot off a set piece.
The Miners then launched a counter attack, with Noel setting up Bohdan on a volley that rocketed past the diving Bach to vault UTEP out by two (2-0).
WKU upped its intensity after conceding the tally, but Scott was up to the task to make a diving stop on a shot by Fondren. Scott then stopped a shot from Aspen Seaich that was destined for the back of the net on the bottom right in the 66th minute.
Emerson Kidd was hoping to extend the advantage to 3-0 but Bach recorded a save on the near-post shot. Cayla Payne then forced Bach to punch away a chance in the 75th minute.
The home side had a golden opportunity in the 83rd minute from just outside the box on a set piece, but Scott snuffed it out with a dive. UTEP then closed out the contest in style.
The Miners will return to action and shoot for their second straight win on “Senior Night” against Southern Miss at 7 p.m. MT Friday (Oct. 22). There will be both live stats and a live stream.
Tickets for the contest are $8 and can be purchased through the Eisenberg Family Ticket Office by calling (915) 747-UTEP, emailing [email protected], going online or in person at 201 Glory Road (Brumbelow Building, UTEP campus) Monday thru Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Group tickets are also available for $5 (minimum of 10 tickets).
For all things UTEP Soccer, click here; for our complete coverage of the Miners, click here.
