MOSCOW, Idaho – The UTEP soccer team put in plenty of effort, but a first-half goal from the Vandals' Calli Chiarelli (10') held up in a narrow 1-0 setback at Idaho Thursday.
 
The Vandals (3-2-2), who have won double-digit games in four straight years and advanced to three consecutive Big Sky championship contests, including taking home the crown in 2023, found a way to hold off every charge from the Miners (2-4-1) after the early strike. UTEP didn't make it easy, however, recording six shots (four in the second half). All three of the Miners' shots on goal and both corner kicks came during a frantic final 45 minutes.
 
Anai Lopez and Anita Quintero keyed the offensive attack for the Orange and Blue with a pair of shots, but the finest opportunity came for Dannique Wilson in the 69th minute. A beautiful thru ball from Yesenia Cisneros led to a breakaway for the junior. Idaho goalkeeper Paula Flores somehow was able to make the save, one of three in the match.
 
UTEP GK Savanah Finley was credited with three stops for the Miners, including a stellar save on a one vs. one late in the second half against Chiarelli. She also made a few plays off the line in traffic to pick off crosses or long services ahead.
 
UTEP possessed and pushed early, with Lopez firing high and just wide one minute into the match. Idaho's first true threat in the fourth minute was wiped out by a slide tackle from Sarina Villa Cuellar. After a UTEP free kick resulted in a header that was errant from Wilson, Idaho got its attack in gear through a set piece.
 
The ball was played into the area where it was headed by Georgia Whitehead off the crossbar. UTEP tried to get to the loose change, but Chiarelli managed to beat everyone to the ball to redirect it in with another header.
 
It was back-and-forth over the next few minutes after the tally before the home side earned a corner kick. A service found the foot of Whitehead, whose shot was fought off with a beautiful kick save by Finley.
 
The Orange and Blue settled down after the stop, doing well to earn a free kick in the 24th minute. It led to good chance for Lopez, but the shot was off the mark. The Miners couldn't get much more the rest of the period, but their defense stayed steady. The efforts by UTEP at that end of the pitch prevented any more shots on target the remainder of the stanza.
 
Idaho generated a corner kick early in the second half, but Finley made sure nothing came of it. She worked through a plethora of players to pick off the service from the corner in the 49th minute, denying a dangerous opportunity for Idaho in the process.
 
After UTEP staved off another corner in the 55th minute, Quintero picked up possession and initiated a counterattack. She threaded the needle with a pass to Mina Rodriguez, but the Vandals' defense managed to win back possession.
 
The Miners started to control the ball a bit more, leading to a look for Zeta McDannels. It was blocked, but Maya Vitoria was right there. She unleashed a shot that prompted a save by Flores in the 62nd minute. Finley denied then Alyssa Hamilton (65') on a low, powerful shot, keeping UTEP within striking distance.
 
The Orange and Blue had an incredible chance at the equalizer in the 69th minute. A beautiful thru ball courtesy of Cisneros in space sprung Wilson in alone on Flores, who came off her line. Wilson lasered a line drive with the left foot, but Flores delivered the point-blank save.
Idaho vied to push its margin to 2-0 in the 72nd minute, but reigning CUSA Defensive Player of the Week Ashlyn Neireiter held her ground in the one vs. one situation. Her efforts prevented a shot from even being taken.
 
Quintero then attacked a double team head on, but Idaho's defense did enough to send it safely out of bounds. UTEP secured a corner kick in the 86th minute, but it couldn't get anything on frame.
 
Idaho countered almost immediately where Finley came up with yet another breathtaking save. She used her speed to charge out on and close the space on Chiarelli before perfectly positioning her frame to rob her with a save on the breakaway shot.  
 
The Miners had one final gasp where Quintero skipped a shot in on net with less than 10 seconds to play, but Flores tracked it and collected the save.
 
UTEP will look to split the road trip when it challenges defending Mountain West regular-season champions Boise State at 1 p.m. MT Sunday. The match will be streamed on the Mountain West Network.
 
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