The UTEP women’s soccer team managed to collect two wins through a three game road trip. The Miners to beat the Charlotte 49ers 4-3, in Charlotte, N.C. They closed out the road trip in Norfolk, Va. with a win versus Old Dominion2-0.
With their second conference match up of the season, the Miners wanted to make a statement to be an offensive threat to their opponents. The game had a total of seven goals, making this match more about offense than defense; but that didn’t stop goalkeeper Alyssa Palacios from having a season-high of nine saves. Goals for the Miners were credited to Jeanna Mullen, Aleah Davis, Yesenia Contreras and Kennadie Chaudhary.
With a tie score at the closing minutes of regulation, Kennadie Chaudhary scored in the final seconds of the game to win 4-3.
The Miners were able to break down the defense of the 49ers, by quick and swift footwork to lead to crucial goals especially in the final minutes of regulation.
But the 49ers quickly reacted to the goals made by the Miners by scoring twice with eight minutes of the second half. Both teams went back and forth with scoring, the game seemed like it may have been heading into overtime, but Chaudhary saved the day for the Miners and scored the winning shot from 18 yards away.
“What a game,” head coach Kevin Cross said in a press release. “Charlotte is an excellent team with a great attack and well coached. We had a great team effort and stayed positive and composed all game long. The game changers made a huge difference.”
The final road game match up for the Miners was against Old Dominion, who are 2-2 in their conference play. The Miners powered through to win 2-0 with goals credited to Jenna Mullen and Bri Barreiro, and included an impressive eight goal saves by Palacios.
The Miners picked up two road wins, which is the first time since 2007. With the win over the Lady Monarchs, the UTEP women’s soccer team handed out their ninth shutout this season, which is tied for a season high for the UTEP’s soccer program. The Miners have three more shutouts to gain, to break the school standard shutout, which was set in 2006 with 11 shutouts for the season.
UTEP scored before the half, but still giving Old Dominion pressure on the defensive end with Palacios having two crucial saves at the end of the first half to keep the score 2-0 heading into halftime. The game seemed to be a bit physical due to both teams having multiple free and corner kicks but defense seem to prevail in UTEPs favor.
Old Dominion tried to regroup for the second half but the Miner’s defense was still in tact from the first half of play. With defense at an all time high the Miners came back in the second half with more intensive defense making a spot on tackle with an isolation situation having the Miners being on the defensive end. As well as Palacios making three saves in the final 15 minutes of regulation.
“We had one of the best road trips in program history,” Cross said. “Today we played a complete game and attacked and defended well. The girls showed what type of team UTEP really is. They had each other’s back and had a ‘wingman.’”
The Miners are undefeated at home this season. They return to University Field for a three game home series to host North Texas on Friday Oct.7 at 7 p.m. and Rice on Sunday, Oct. 9 at 12 p.m.
