Game Book
HONOLULU – The UTEP soccer team had its two-game winning streak snapped with a 2-1 setback at Hawai'i Sunday afternoon.
The Rainbow Wahine (6-4-1, 3-1 MW) managed to grab a 2-0 lead behind respective goals from Tatum Porter (40') and Anuhea Aluli (48'). The Miners (8-2-3, 2-2 MW) were unfazed, with
Anai Lopez's (81') third goal of the campaign cutting the deficit in half. It was the first goal conceded by Hawai'i at home in more than five matches.
UTEP nearly found the equalizer when GK
Savanah Finley unleashed a rocket (85') that forced an outstanding leaping save by Hawai'i netminder Kennedy Justin. It was the third and most important save of the contest for the homestanding keeper.
UTEP created four corner kicks while Finley was credited with three stops in the setback.
The Miners sliced through the defense two minutes into the tilt, but the ball trickled over the line before a cross could be made. UTEP then garnered a corner kick (5'), but a great scoring chance on a half volley (6') from
Haylee Lancaster was wiped away with a foul.
The Rainbow Wahine registered their initial opportunity with a corner kick (8'), which was defended nicely. The Miners looked to counter, leading to a point-blank shot from Lancaster (11') that was stoned by Justin. The rebound appeared poised for the back of the net, but a whistle against the Orange and Blue halted the sequence. UTEP then pressured with a long service (12') by
Macey Williams on a free kick. A clearing attempt on a header went backward, but Justin stuck with it.
The home side secured a second corner kick (15'), but Rainbow Wahine attackers were marked and UTEP went back to work offensively. As the half wore on, plenty of action was contested in the midfield with both sides defending with intensity. The Orange and Blue fought off a pair of corner kicks, but Hawai'i managed to break through late in the stanza. Following a goal kick from UTEP, the home side won the ball back and Porter was sprung in on a partial breakaway thanks to a through ball. She laced the shot (40') that snuck past Finley.
The Miners went back to work after conceding, but
Shawna Larson's try (42') was blocked. UTEP kept possession down the stretch, but it was saddled with the one-goal deficit at the break.
Hawai'i extended its edge to 2-0 after Aluli snuck a shot (48') into the top left part of the frame less than three minutes into the second half. UTEP regrouped, and it started to send some balls further up the pitch to kickstart the offense.
A foul on the Rainbow Wahine led to a free kick for the Miners. Williams blasted it (52') only to have it sail wide of the frame.
Ava Grosso floated a shot (70') from the right wing, but Justin followed it to make the save.
Finley collected a save on a high-arching shot (78') from the right wing by Piper Bertani. The Miners once again vied to bolt up the pitch to get on the board, and it paid dividends. Lopez won possession of the ball from 30+ yards out and rocketed a shot into the back of the net past a diving Justin.
UTEP nearly found the equalizer, with Finley drilling a shot (85') on a free kick that forced a leaping save from Justin. The GK managed to punch her counterpart's foray over the net. UTEP couldn't capitalize on the ensuing corner, allowing Hawai'i to hold on.
The Miners have a quick turnaround, returning home to play host to first-place Colorado College at 7 p.m. MT Thursday.
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