FULLERTON, Calif. – Hayden McMillan (59') found the back of the net for the first time as a Miner while Savanah Finley registered a career-high tying four saves, but the UTEP soccer team was held off, 2-1, at CSU Fullerton Sunday evening.
 
The Titans (2-0-1) received tallies from Jenae Perez (17') and Isabella Cruz (50') to snag a 2-0 lead in the match, with the latter coming on a penalty kick. The Miners (1-2-1) refused to quit. Off a free kick from just past midfield, Olivia Roskos boomed the service into the area. McMillan timed her run perfectly and half-volleyed the ball home past Isaac Ranson. UTEP kept pressuring after the goal, but it was unable to find the equalizer.
 
It was a physical contest, resulting in a combined seven yellow cards and 33 fouls between the two sides. The Miners racked up 11 shots, forcing Ranson into a pair of stops. They also earned two corner kicks.
 
After both sides fought to establish something offensively, UTEP generated the first look. Ana Quintero deftly touched a pass to Anai Lopez (7'), who turned to fire. It sailed high and wide, however. CSU Fullerton countered, but a ball into space was shielded nicely by the Miners' defense. That allowed Finley to come off the line to slide and scoop the loose change up.
 
Quintero was the aggressor in the 13th minute. She won a ball in the box. Her shot, however, was blocked, before being cleared away by the Titans. Three minutes later it was a thru ball from Quintero intended for Zeta McDannels, but it had just a bit too much pace.
 
The Titans strung together a quick counterattack, catching the Orange and Blue in transition after a giveaway. Perez had a ball dropped back to her in space in the middle of the box. Finley tried to cut the angle down, but Perez managed to tingle the twine.
 
UTEP regrouped and looked for the equalizer quickly. Roskos (19') tested Ranson, who was able to cleanly corral the shot for the save. Quintero (20') then rifled a shot, which was high.
 
The home side had a brilliant opportunity to nudge its advantage to 2-0, but Finley was not having it. Cruz had split the defense and was in alone on the netminder, who flew off the line. She then ate up the point-blank shot to keep UTEP within striking distance.
 
Finley then punched a dangerous ball that sailed directly on the six-yard line out of harms' way. UTEP got to the loose change and sent it up toward McMillan. She had a step on the defender, but from a less-than-ideal angle the shot (34') crept low and wide of the frame.
 
Finley was called upon twice as the half crept toward a conclusion. A diving effort denied a shot from Perez (38') off a free kick. She then smothered a shot by Talei Moodie that came after the ball bounced around in the area following the corner. The effort allowed UTEP to trail by just one (1-0) heading into halftime.
 
A tough call in the box in the box five minutes into the second stanza resulted in a penalty kick for the Titans. Finley did her best but couldn't make a stop on the shot by Cruz.
 
CSU Fullerton kept the heat on, but Finley continued to shine. She stopped an attempt from Sasha Amezcua (52'). UTEP then took care of business by fending off the ensuing corner.
 
Play continued to be chippy with whistles and yellow cards going to each side. The Miners had an opportunity on one of those on a free kick from just past midfield. Roskos boomed one into the box, which skipped past the defense. McMillan ran onto the ball and half-volleyed it home to get UTEP on the board and cut the deficit in half.
 
The Orange and Blue showed off quality defense as the half wore on, refusing to let the Titans reinstate a two-goal advantage. Quintero (78') fought to find an equalizer, sneaking in a shot between a pair of defenders only to have Ranson make a diving stop. The Miners recorded two more shots down the stretch, but they couldn't pull even.
 
UTEP will look to regain its winning ways with a pair of home matches this week. The Orange and Blue will play host to Tarleton State at 7 p.m. MT Thursday and then challenge Stephen F. Austin at 1 p.m. MT Sunday. Both matches will be contested at University Field (elevation 4,200 feet), and tickets may be bought by calling (915) 747-UTEP.
 
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