Sept. 24, 2010
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EL PASO, TEXAS- Powered by goals from Skye Schultz, Jade Babcock and Brittany Kindzierksi, the UTEP soccer team downed UAB, 3-1, in the Conference USA opener for both squads in front of raucous 1,025 fans at University Field Friday evening.
Babcock's tally at 69:22 broke not only the 1-1 deadlock but also the morale of the Blazers (4-5-0, 0-1-0 C-USA), who were held to only one shot on goal down the stretch. Kindzierksi added an insurance tally with 19 seconds left to seal the seventh straight for the Miners (8-1-0, 1-0 C-USA).
Chandra Morden registered seven saves, six of which came in the first period, to lead the way defensively for UTEP. UAB's Kate Blankenship also was impressive in net, making 12 stops in the losing effort. The Miners outshot the Blazers, 29-14, (15-8 SOG) including 19-6 (6-1) after the break.
"The first half we played a lot of defense," UTEP head coach Cross said. "(UAB) was playing in a new formation against us, and we finally figured it out (in the second half). That was a big win for us. It was a great crowd tonight."
The Miners fed off the atmosphere early, with Schultz burying a feed from junior Katie Dorman to afford them a 1-0 lead at 3:57. Dorman tip-toed along the end line, managing to not only keep the ball in play but also deftly touching a pass to a wide-open Schultz. The sophomore one-timed the shot into upper 90's country for her third tally of the campaign.
Tess Hall vied to double the home side's advantage at the 9:5 6 mark, but this time Blankenship was up to the task.
UAB then went on the offensive, with aspirations of tying the tilt. Morden had other ideas, though, coming up with a trio of breathtaking stops. Carolyn Polcari was stoned at 12:40 while Morden deflected the rebound try by Pascale Pinard just wide. On the ensuing corner, Morden calmly collected a try with ample pace by Morgan Haney.
Freshman Gina Soto tested Blankenship at 16:12 but the visiting netminder showed good form in making the stop.
The stop gained importance four minutes later, with the Blazers knotting the contest. Marie Yempuku lobbed a ball into space for McCalla, who headed it just over Morden to pull her side even at 20:19.
The Orange and Blue regrouped nicely after the strike, peppering Blankenship with a quartet of shots in a 12-minute span. Kindzierski had the best of the looks, screaming a shot on net only to have the Blazers' GK turn it away with a diving stop at 27:49.
The Miners continued to pressure as the half wore on, but it did not pay dividends in the form of a go-ahead goal.
Schultz was stopped at 36:48 while Kindzierski was denied at 37:42. Dorman, meanwhile, had a header whistle wide at 40:55.Morden was called upon twice in that timeframe, delivering saves against Polcari (39:16) and McCalla (44:51).
UTEP asserted itself early on in the second period, with Dorman forcing Blankenship to make a stop at 47:36. Hall was turned away at 55:14 while Kindzierski was denied at 58:48.
Babcock appeared poised to vault the Miners ahead in the 68th minute, but her shot cruelly clanked off the crossbar.
Before the Blazers could count their blessings for their fortune, Babcock took matters into her own hands. After a wild sequence following a corner kick, the freshman ended up with the ball just inside the area. She took one dribble to compose herself before skillfully curving the shot just past the outstretched fingertips of Blankenship.
Her fifth goal of the season ultimately proved to be decisive strike, with UTEP smothering UAB down the stretch.
The lone chance for the visitors came in the waning minutes, with Morden making a point-blank stop on a shot by Tiffany Turpin at 83:09.
With the Blazers still hanging around, Kindzierski tacked on the insurance goal with a silky smooth shot that banked in off the far post. The strike was here C-USA leading 10th strike of the season.
UTEP will continue league play when it plays host to No. 25 Memphis (7-2-0) at 1 p.m. MT on Sunday. The Lady Tigers downed Colorado College, 1-0, on the road Friday.
