EL PASO, Texas – The UTEP soccer team will vie for a second consecutive victory when it challenges Air Force at University Field at 7 p.m. MT Friday. The Miners (7-1-3, 1-1 MW) are also looking to stay perfect (4-0) at home, but the Falcons (6-3-1, 1-1 MW) will provide a fierce test. Fans unable to make it out to support the Orange and Blue may watch the match exclusively on MW+ (subscription required).
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All UTEP home matches and every league contest will be available exclusively on MW+. Built to bring fans closer to the action, MW+ serves as the dedicated home for UTEP's live events, original programming and on-demand content. Through its partnership with Kiswe, the Mountain West is introducing an interactive viewing experience designed for Miner Nation that is flexible, accessible and built for scale. MW+ subscriptions are available for $79.99 annually or $10.99 monthly. Fans can become MW+ subscribers and watch the Miners at
https://watch.themw.com/utep/soccer-womens.
Last Time Out
Valeria Agudelo (30') scored her second goal of the year while UTEP defended fiercely on the way to knocking off San Jose State, 1-0, to pick up its first Mountain West victory at University Field on Sept. 27.
Savanah Finley registered two high-level saves to record her fifth shutout of the season, and
Ashlyn Neireiter was credited with an assist on Agudelo's score to help the Miners remain unbeaten at home (4-0) in 2026. SJSU's Paige Fry made five stops in the losing effort. The Orange and Blue outshot the Spartans (1-6-2, 0-2 MW), 13-8, including 6-2 for shots on goal. Both tries on target for the visitors came in the opening frame.
Get To Know Air Force
Air Force boasts a strong record of 6-3-1 on the year, including standing 1-1 in the Mountain West. While the Falcons have soared at home (3-1-1), they have also played quality soccer on the road (3-2). Air Force boasts a prolific offense with 21 goals (first MW/67th NCAA), aided by Annika Jost (four), Maddy Walsh (four), Jordan Dillingham (three), Chase Borntreger (two) and Elizabeth McCarron (two) all sporting multiple tallies on the year. The Falcons are also among the conference leaders and top-100 nationally for corner kicks per game (5.9-second/68th), goal differential (+9-third/84th), points per game (5.3-third/90th), save percentage (.806-third/75th), saves per game (5.0-second/64th), scoring offense (2.1-second/56th), shots per game (16.2-second/45th), shots on goal per game (7.4-second/47th) and won-lost-tied percentage (.650-fourth/93rd).
Series History With Air Force
UTEP is undefeated (4-0-1) all-time against Air Force, but the two sides haven't squared off since the 2008 campaign. The Miners and Falcons tied, 1-1, in the first meeting in 1996, but the Orange and Blue are 4-0 since. They have outscored Air Force, 9-2, during the four-match winning streak.
What's At Stake
UTEP is seeking to claim consecutive conference contests for the first time since 2019. A triumph would also give the Miners a winning mark in league action through three games for the initial occasion since the 2020 season (started 2-1, finished 2-3-1). That year was played in Spring 2021 due to COVID-19.
Home Sweet Home
UTEP boasts a perfect 4-0 record at home, with all four triumphs coming on shutouts. The Miners have a combined scoring differential of 9-0 in those contests. The last time UTEP ripped off at least four straight clean sheets at home was in 2016. That year, the Orange and Blue commenced the campaign with five consecutive blankings, a feat the Miners can match on Friday.
All About That Offense
The Miners enter Friday's matchup vs. Air Force with 17 goals. That is their most tallies in a season since 2019 (28). A consistent attack has been helpful. UTEP has found the back of the net in seven straight games and 10 of 11 contests on the campaign. The scoring streak equals the longest in seven years (2019), and at least one goal on Friday would secure the lengthiest at the school since 2015 (10 in a row). Another factor has been selfless play. The Orange and Blue boast 17 assists, the most since being credited with 18 in 2021.
Getting Defensive
The Miners have outscored the opposition, 17-6, aided by six shutouts while holding four other foes to a single goal. Helping its cause has been UTEP outshooting the opposition, 160-107, including a stellar 91-50 cushion during the second half. The Miners currently boast a GAA of 0.55, which would set a school record. UTEP is also one clean sheet shy of moving into a tie for sixth place for a single season (seven, 2019, 2013, 2011, 2004, 2003, 2002).
Z Is For Zeta
Zeta McDannels has been the top offensive threat for the Miners. She leads the squad with a Mountain West best six goals (57th NCAA). The midfielder also paces the Orange and Blue in points (12-fourth Mountain West) and shots (25) while checking in second on the unit for shots on goal (11).
Something Not Seen Often By A Sophomore
Zeta McDannels' six goals top the team and are the most in a single season by a UTEP sophomore since
Brittany Kindzierski went wild with 11 scores in 2010.
Others Scoring Too
While
Zeta McDannels has done the most damage with six goals, she has had help. Four other Miners (
Valeria Agudelo,
Haylee Lancaster,
Anai Lopez and
Ashlyn Neireiter) all sport a pair of tallies. This is the first time since 2019 (seven) that UTEP has had at least five players score multiple goals in the same season.
Haylee Hits It On Target
Freshman
Haylee Lancaster has posted a sensational shot accuracy of 66.7 percent. She has registered 12 shots on goal in 18 total shots to easily pace the squad in the category (min. five overall shots).
Sharing Is Caring
Forward
Dannique Wilson enters Friday's match with five assists (first Mountain West/38th NCAA). The effort has already surpassed her sum (four) from a year ago, and it is the most helpers by a Miner since 2019 (
Tessa Carlin, seven and
Jojo Ngongo, five).
Most In The Mountain West
Zeta McDannels enters Friday's match with a league-leading six goals (57th NCAA). Her six scores are the most by a Miner since
Lauren Crenshaw found the back of the net seven times in 2018.
Winning Close
The Miners have five wins with a one-goal differential this season, showing the ability to close out contests in style. That is the most such victories since 2019. The last time UTEP enjoyed more triumphs with just a one-tally difference was in 2016 (six).
More Than Double Last Year's Win Total
UTEP's seven victories on the season more than double its win total from 2025. It also is the most in a season for the Miners since 2019 (10-7-3). Making it more impressive is that UTEP has played just four matches at home. In fact, seven of the first 10 tilts were on the road before the current two-game homestand. That marked the first time in 24 years that the Orange and Blue had just three of their initial 10 contests at University Field.
Finley's Moving On Up
Sophomore GK
Savanah Finley has registered five shutouts on the year, lifting her career total to nine. That effort already puts her alone in sixth place while she now stands three back of
Chandra Morden (12, 2008-11).
Shutout City
UTEP has recorded six shutouts on the year. The six clean sheets surpass last season's total (five), and this edition of the Miners are now one shy of cracking the program's single-season top-10 list.
Continuity In The Starting XI
Seven Miners have started every match of the season, affording head coach
Gibbs Keeton some much-needed continuity out of the gates.
Kialie Hudson (10) and
Gianna Wilbur (10) have both earned a starting nod in all of their outings.
In The Rankings
The Miners' strong effort in 2026 has put them among the Mountain West leaders and within the top-100 nationally for multiple categories. Among them are assists per game (1.6-third/97th), goal differential (+11, second/65th), goals against average (.545-first/19th), save percentage (.857-second/26th), shots per game (14.6-fifth/96th), shots on goal per game (6.0-fourth/91st), shutout percentage (.545-third/37th) and win-lost-tied percentage (.773-second/26th). Individually,
Haylee Lancaster and
Zeta McDannels both sport two game-winning goals (third/59th).
Dannique Wilson checks in among the leaders for total assists (five-first/57th) while McDannels does so for both goals (six-first/57th). GK
Savanah Finley has been sensational and sits among the leaders for multiple categories, including goalie minutes (975:41, first/43rd), GAA (0.553-first/30th), save percentage (.850-first/35th) and shutouts (five-second/20th).
Roster Rundown
UTEP has a solid nucleus of returnees in place for 2026. The Miners returned seven starters (GK
Savanah Finley, MF
Anai Lopez, MF
Zeta McDannels, D
Ashlee Mora, D
Ashlyn Neireiter, D
Olivia Roskos and MF
Maya Vitoria) and seven others (MF
Yesenia Cisneros, F
Kaitlyn Duntley, D
Avery Easley, MF
Cassie Garza, F
Ava Grosso, MF
Ella Rorabaugh and MF
Dannique Wilson) to give it 14 letter winners total in the fold from last year. There are also three players (MF
Damaris Cisneros, MF
Kialie Hudson and D
Sasha Lucero) ready to rock from 2025 who sat out last season. UTEP added 12 newcomers, with five DI transfers (GK
Jaylyn Hammond, Grambling State, F
Shawna Larson, Sacramento State, MF
Alana Lawless-Felarca, East Texas A&M, D
Gianna Wilbur, Miami (Ohio) and D
Macey Williams, Saint Peter's University), five freshmen (MF
Kylie Alvarez, MF
Bethlehem Daniel, F
Haylee Lancaster, D
Nyalah Reeves, D
Sophia Tovar) and one each from the JUCO (F
Valeria Agudelo) and NAIA (GK
Ava Brandt) level.
Neireiter Never Comes Off The Pitch
UTEP senior D
Ashlyn Neireiter takes fitness to a whole new level. She has gone the full 90 minutes in 42 of the past 44 matches, missing a combined 20 minutes of action since the beginning of 2024. Additionally, she has started every game (62) of her career.
A Trio Of Captains
Seniors
Kialie Hudson and
Ashlyn Neireiter and junior
Ashlee Mora will have leadership roles in 2026, with each being named a captain for the team.
31st Season Of UTEP Soccer
The 2026 campaign marks the 31st season in program history, with the Miners sporting an all-time record of 292-240-58. That is aided by a record of 7-1-3 on the year.
Keeton Era Hits Year Four
The 2026 season is the fourth at the helm for El Paso native
Gibbs Keeton. Buoying the gaffer are assistant coaches
Morgan McDougal and
Jared Hallman, who are also in their fourth years.
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