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TEMPE, Ariz. – Ana Quintero scored a breathtaking goal while Savanah Finley recorded four saves in the UTEP soccer team's 4-1 setback at Big 12 member and Arizona State Friday evening.
 
The Sun Devils (7-0-1), who haven't lost at home in nonconference action in the past 20 matches (14-0-6) and are off to their best start in 25 years, snagged an early lead from Cameron Valladares (12'). The Miners (3-5-1) regrouped and battled back, pulling even on a cracker from Quintero (54'). ASU regained the advantage on a strike from Tatum Thomason (58'). The home side tacked a pair of goals in the final 16 minutes, with Lucy Fazackerley (74') and Addison Baltodano (85') both finding the back of the net.
 
Quintero's tally was her team-leading third of the season, with Dannique Wilson recording her first point at the DI level after being credited with an assist on the play. It also marked only the fourth goal conceded on the campaign by the Sun Devils. There could have been more, but ASU GK Pauline Nelles came through with four saves.
 
Overall, the Orange and Blue finished with nine total shots while also securing a corner kick.
 
After some back-and-forth possession, the home side got a cross into the area, but the try from Sierra Bergen was errant. The Sun Devils kept it in deep where another shot by Bergen clipped the crossbar. UTEP generated its first try on a chance (8') that sailed high by Zeta McDannels.
 
Finley then fought off a wicked left-footed blast from Baltodano with a brilliant save to steer it wide of the frame. UTEP sent it back up the pitch only to have ASU quickly counter. A couple of quick passes set up Valladares in the box, who snuck a shot past Finley at the near post.
 
Good discipline from the back line led to a couple of offside infractions against ASU. Finley also intercepted a cross to wipe out one chance and then punched out a service on a corner kick in the 24th minute.
 
UTEP got the ball back into Sun Devils' territory. Quintero's header (27') was deflected and Nelles corralled it. Eve Barry tested the GK in the 31st minute with a shot from just outside the box. Nelles tracked it well, making a clean save. The Miners then did well to not let anything in on target on another ASU corner kick.
 
The Sun Devils looked poised to stretch their lead to 2-0, but Finley delivered a fantastic stop. She outstretched with both hands to redirect a hard shot from deep in the box by Ela Kettles. The serve on the ensuing corner went over the line for a goal kick.
 
UTEP nearly found the equalizer in the final minute of the half, with Wilson spinning and suddenly shooting. The ball skipped in with a nifty change of pace, forcing Nelles to dive to her left for a stop. The ball remained loose, but the Orange and Blue were unable to get to it before the Sun Devils did.
 
Finley tracked a long, albeit powerful shot from Izzy Monck three minutes into the second half. There was no rebound, and she quickly punted it back up the pitch. The Miners' defense did well to deny a cross by blocking it over the line. Finley then navigated through traffic to punch out the service.
 
UTEP methodically worked the ball up the field, gaining chunks of territory with crisp passes and winning throw ins. The Miners played things into the area, where Wilson was swarmed. Her shot was blocked but Quintero tracked the loose change. Her left-foot rocket then found a home in upper 90's country in the far, left portion of the net.
 
The Miners earned a corner less than a minute later, but it didn't pay dividends. The Sun Devils then bolted up the pitch where they would answer Quintero's highlight-reel goal. Thomason split a pair of defenders and then managed to best Finley. The home side added two tallies down the stretch, making the final score a bit deceiving of how the match had been contested.
 
UTEP will have a clean slate when it kicks off Conference USA play at LA Tech at 6 p.m. MT/7 p.m. CT on Sept. 19. It will be the first of eight league matches for the Miners, who will follow the contest against the Bulldogs with a three-game homestand.
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