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MURFREESBORO, Tenn.– The UTEP soccer program (2-10-3, 1-3-2 CUSA) left it late Thursday night, with Nicole Morales scoring the equalizer in the 79th minute to earn the tie against the Blue Raiders (4-8-3, 0-4-1 CUSA). Kaila Hudson served up the assist on the goal.
 
The Miners had nine shots in the match (four on goal), led by Morales and Mina Rodriguez with two (one on goal) each. UTEP drew the opponent offside seven times, which proved crucial down the stretch. Angelina Amparano was stout in net, recording a career-high seven saves on the night.
 
"We are really starting to define what it means to be a Miner and that is synonymous with being a fighter," Head Coach Gibbs Keeton said. "As a staff we love that, and as a team it's a great attribute to be proud of. Nicole and Kaila are players willing to shoulder the responsibility of the team, and it's infectious. They are hitting their stride late as great teammates, thriving in adversity, and willing to be brave."
 
The game got off to a physical start, with three fouls in the first seven minutes of play. Middle Tennessee had four shots early, but three sailed out of bounds and Amparano got her hands on the fourth.
 
Taya Lopez had a chance on goal in the 17th minute, but Middle Tennessee netminder Hannah Suder was able to smother it. In the 22nd minute Elizabeth Slavinksy put a shot off target for the home side. Amparano was able to make the save against Eleanor Gough in the 25th and Idun Kvaale in the 27th.
 
The Blue Raiders broke the stalemate on a goal from Gough in the 34th minute, despite Amparano getting a hand on the shot. In the 42nd minute Amparano snagged one from MTSU leading scorer Manon Lebargy. Mina Rodriguez had a shot blocked a minute later in the 43rd, and Emma Petterson had the last chance of the half miss wide in the 44th.
 
In the second period, the hosts again got off to a hot start, posting three shots in the opening five minutes. Maia Rodriguez responded with a shot of her own in the 52nd, but it missed the target. Amparano made another save in the 54th minute, and the Orange and Blue defense tacked on two blocks in the 55th. In the 62nd minute a foul on the Blue Raiders set up a free kick for UTEP, but Suder safely recovered the ball.
 
Later, in the 68th minute, Vanessa Cabello had a good chance at the top left corner, but Suder managed to get her hands on it. Both sides traded shots in the 73rd minute, with Amparano stopping Hannah Murphy's effort followed by Ally Stickney shooting one off target. From there, the Miners found another gear. Morales had a shot fly wide in the 75th minute, and a minute later Rodriguez forced a save from Suder.
 
UTEP found the equalizer in the 79th minute. Hudson stripped a Middle Tennessee defender, dribbled into the box and found Morales, who deftly put the ball past Suder for her second goal in as many games.
 
The hunt for another goal evaded both sides as the clock ticked down. Olivia Roskos had her shot blocked by the Blue Raider defense in the 82nd minute. In the 85th, the hosts had a corner kick followed by a shot from Petterson, but Amparano was able to keep things level to the end the match.
 
UTEP returns home Sunday to play host to Liberty in the final home game of the 2023 campaign.
 
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