This is the point for UTEP Miner fans to start getting excited about the women’s soccer team. That magic has not run out.
Down 1-0 in the final 22 minutes against UT-Rio Grande Valley on Thursday, Sept. 10, they found a way through to 2-1 on the other side. They traveled a bit east to face Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, they won by the same 2-1 score on Sunday, Sept. 13, after two early goals and staunch defending thereafter.
The Miners are now 6-0-2 (two ties) and the history is thick to go through.
They are:
- Unbeaten in their first eight. UTEP has its longest undefeated streak at the start of a season since 2005, when the team went 14-0-1 to make the NCAA tournament.
- The Miners have won four straight for the first time since 2017.
- This is the first time they've been unbeaten on the road at this point in the season since 2017.
"It was a great road trip for the Miners and another important step in what is becoming a historic season," UTEP head coach Gibbs Keeton (a Montwood High grad) said after the win
against TA&M-CC. "I'm most proud of is the way this group continues to grow in our soccer identity. We're connected, we're understanding our roles and responsibilities, and we're beginning to really trust one another in the moments that matter.
“The goal scorers will get the recognition they deserve, but those moments are a reflection of the work and commitment of the entire group. We're defending together, attacking together and competing for one another, and that's what makes this team special. It's an understatement to say how proud I am of our staff and our players. They've earned every bit of the acknowledgment they're receiving. We'll enjoy this trip and our focus has already shifted to next Thursday and another opportunity to go on the road and put our identity on the field."
UTEP has done all this without one of their best players, midfielder Ashlee Mora, whose Mexican national team was just eliminated in the U20 World Cup in Poland. UTEP has no word yet on when she will return, but it is likely soon.
The next match is Thursday, Sept. 17 at New Mexico State, the final game before becomes the first UTEP team to play a Mountain West game when they travel to UNLV on Sept. 24.
UTEP golfer Patrick Foley at USC tournament
UTEP golfer Patrick Foley contended into the back 9 of the final round of the USC's Bomb Darts Birds Intercollegiate at Whirlwind Golf Club before finishing fourth out of 81 golfers. His team finished tied for seventh in the 13-team tournament, the Miners' opener for their fall season.
Foley entered the third and final round tied for the lead, but his 2-under 70 on the last day dropped him into fourth. Nonetheless, his 202 for the tournament marked his 54-hole career best.
As a team, UTEP shot 832, behind first-place Santa Clara (814) and second-place New Mexico State (817).
Next up for the Miners is the Air Force's Gene Miranda Invitational on Sept. 19-21, in Colorado Springs. While this obviously isn't a conference event, this will be the first time a UTEP program has competed at a Mountain West venue since joining the conference this fall.
UTEP set to host cross country meet
UTEP will host its first cross country meet in El Paso since 2019 when the 40th Lori Fitzgerald Invitational goes off at Ascarate Park on Sat., Sept. 19.
The meet originated in El Paso 40 years ago, but starting in 2020, it moved to New Mexico State. With UTEP finding money in the budget for a home meet, the program reclaimed the Lori Fitzgerald Invitational and NMSU renamed its meet the Art Morgan Classic, which was where the Miners opened a week ago.
Fitzgerald was a UTEP athlete who lost her life in a training accident in 1985 when she was hit by a truck.
Bret Bloomquist can be reached at bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; @Bretbloomquist on X.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: UTEP women's soccer is off to a historic start. Now what?
