EL PASO, Texas – The UTEP soccer team is ready to welcome league-leading Colorado College to University Field at 7 p.m. MT Thursday before turning around to compete at Wyoming (tied for second place in the Mountain West) at 1 p.m. MT Sunday in a busy split week of action.
 
The Miners (8-2-3, 2-2 MW) will be looking to protect their perfect home record (5-0) against the Tigers (6-4-4, 4-0-1 MW) before locking up with the Cowgirls (10-3, 3-1 MW) on the road Sunday. Coincidentally, Wyoming boasts a better road mark (7-1) than home record (3-2).  
 
Both matches will be streamed 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
UTEP had its two-game winning streak snapped with a 2-1 setback at Hawai'i on Oct. 11. The Rainbow Wahine managed to grab a 2-0 lead behind respective goals from Tatum Porter (40') and Anuhea Aluli (48'). The Miners 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.
 
Conference Honors Stacking Up
UTEP has claimed four weekly awards from the Mountain West this year. The Miners boast a pair of MW women's soccer Defensive Player of the Week awards (Savanah Finley, Aug. 31, Macey Williams, Oct. 5), an offensive player of the week (Zeta McDannels, Sept. 14) and a freshman of the week (Haylee Lancaster, Sept. 14). The last time UTEP had at least three combined offensive and defensive players of the week within the same season was in 2012 (Tess Hall, Tori Martyn, offensive and Sarah Dilling, defensive). CUSA did not name a freshman of the week, and it selected an offensive, defensive and goalkeeper of the week starting in 2016.
 
Get To Know Colorado College
Mountain West affiliate member for women's soccer Colorado College is enjoying a banner campaign. The Tigers are 6-4-4 on the year, aided by an outstanding record of 4-0-1 (13 points) in league action to sit atop the MW standings. CC has posted back-to-back shutout victories (W, 2-0 vs. New Mexico and W, 2-0, at San Jose State, 10/11). The Tigers have been challenged on the road with a mark of 1-3-3, but all the negative results came during nonconference action. They have been outscored by a count of 22-18 on the year, but in MW play CC boasts a +7 differential (10-3). It has found the back of the net twice in all five league contests after just doing so twice spanning eight non-league tilts. The Tigers play clean soccer, committing only 7.5 infractions per game (third MW/64th NCAA). GK Regan Wallace boasts the most minutes played of any netminder in the league with 1207:30 (49th NCAA). She has five clean sheets (second/55th). Offensively Ella Ashouri tops the team in both goals (four) and points (10). Bella Stewart and Finley Schoenbeck both buoy her with three goals apiece. Charlotte Strable (four) and Nadia Cassamajor (three) have been the most selfless through setting up their teammates with their passing. The opposition has pounced on the Tigers early, outscoring them, 10-5. It's a different story in the second stanza, as foes have a 13-12 differential.
 
Series History With Colorado College
UTEP has quite a history with Colorado College that dates to when the Tigers were an affiliate member of Conference USA. UTEP has secured the victory in two of the past three meetings to hold an all-time edge of 7-5. All the matches occurred between 2006 through 2013. The most recent matchup between the sides was a 2-1 triumph for the Miners in 2013.
 
Get To Know Wyoming
Wyoming boasts a stellar mark of 10-3 on the year, including 3-1 within league play to stand in a tie for second place in the Mountain West. The Cowgirls have a sensational +18 goal differential (30-12-first MW/30th NCAA), overwhelming the opposition on offense (2.31 goals per game-first MW/31st NCAA) while smothering them on defense (0.923 GAA-fourth MW/75th NCAA). Wyoming is also among the league leaders and top-100 nationally for assists per game (1.85-first/58th), corner kicks per contest (6.62-first/36th), points per game (6.46-first/39th), shots per game (17.1-first/20th), shots on goal per game (7.4-first/46th), shutout percentage (0.538-second/36th) and won-lost-tied percentage (0.769-first/23rd). Alyssa Glover shares the MW lead with seven goals (60th NCAA) while Isabel Vasco (five), Brooke Brown (five) and Maddie Burr (four) have been potent offensively as well. Burr and Glover each have been credited with five assists (third MW/79th NCAA) while Reese Gould sports a quartet of helpers. GK Haley Bartel has been a stone wall, registering seven shutouts (first/13th). She has played 1149:56 minutes (third/89th) and compiled a GAA of 0.861 (second/72nd). Glover has delivered in the clutch with three match winners (second/38th).
 
Series History With Wyoming
UTEP is 5-1-1 all-time against Wyoming, with the first three matchups coming when both programs were still members of the WAC. The two sides have played four times since 2016, most recently with the Orange and Blue securing a 3-1 road triumph in 2022.
 
Dominant At Home
UTEP has dominated the opposition at home, outscoring it 11-1 on the way to standing a flawless 5-0 in those contests. It marks the first time that the Orange and Blue have won the initial five home matches since 2016 (+11 goal differential, 11-0). The last occasion the Miners surpassed that was in 2012. That year they emerged victorious in their first seven home tilts (+13 goal differential, 20-7).
 
Picking It Up
Anai Lopez has elevated her play since the start of Mountain West action, tallying a team-high two goals through four games. The effort has elevated her season total to three. It is evidence of her hard work paying off. The junior had one goal combined in her first two campaigns with the Orange and Blue before finding the back of the net a trio of times this year.
 
A Look At The League Standings
Colorado College sits atop the Mountain West with 13 points (4-0-1), and it is the only program without a league loss. Air Force (3-2), Hawai'i (3-1), New Mexico (3-2) and Wyoming (3-1) all share second place with nine points while the Miners (2-2) and UC Davis (2-3) are tied for sixth. GCU (1-2-1) and UNLV (1-3-1) both boast four points while San Jose State (three points, 1-4) and Nevada (one point, 0-3-1) round out the standings.
 
Progress On The Road
UTEP is a 3-2-3 away from home in 2026 (0-2 in MW), surpassing the total combined road triumphs over the past three seasons combined (two). Furthermore, it is the most road wins in a campaign since 2019 when the Miners went 4-4-2.
 
All About That Offense
UTEP has found the back of the net in nine straight and 12 of the 13 contests this season. The scoring streak is the lengthiest at the school since 2015 (15 in a row). Overall, the Miners have registered 20 goals to go along with 20 assists. That is the most for both of those categories since 2019 (28 goals, 29 helpers).
 
Talking Multi-Goal Games
Following the 2-1 triumph against Air Force (Oct. 2), UTEP marched to 9-2-1 all-time under head coach Gibbs Keeton when scoring at least twice. Both losses came in his first season. UTEP is 5-0 in the situation this year, with the five multi-goal games being the most in a campaign at the school since 2019 (nine).
 
Getting Defensive
The Miners have outscored the opposition, 20-9, aided by six shutouts while holding five other foes to a single goal. Helping its cause has been UTEP outshooting the opposition, 176-141, including a stellar 99-71 cushion during the second half. The Miners currently boast a GAA of 0.69, which would be second all-time at the school. 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 is thriving in her second season with the Orange and Blue. She is tied for the Mountain West lead with seven goals (55th NCAA). The midfielder also paces the Orange and Blue in points (14-fourth Mountain West) and shots (30). She is second on the squad for shots on goal (12), trailing only Haylee Lancaster for shots on goal (13). McDannels' seven scores match the most by a Miner since Lauren Crenshaw also had seven in 2018. The last time a UTEP player surpassed seven goals was 11 years ago with 12 tallies by Angela Cutaia.
 
Something Not Seen Often By A Sophomore
Zeta McDannels' seven goals are the most in a single season by a UTEP sophomore since Brittany Kindzierski went wild with 11 scores in 2010. That also rates tied for seventh among Miner sophomores in program history.
 
Others Scoring Too
While Zeta McDannels has done the most damage with seven goals, she has had help. Five other Miners (Valeria Agudelo, Haylee Lancaster, Anai Lopez, Ashlyn Neireiter and Macey Williams) all sport a pair of tallies. It marks the first time since 2019 (seven) that UTEP has had at least six players contribute multiple goals in the same season.
 
Hitting The Target
Freshman Haylee Lancaster (68.4 percent) and junior Macey Williams (64.7 percent) have been extremely accurate with getting their shots on target. Williams boasts 11 shots on goal among 17 total shots while Lancaster has laced 13 of 19 attempts on frame.
 
Sharing Is Caring
Forward Dannique Wilson enters this week tied for the Mountain West lead in assists with six (42nd NCAA). The effort has easily 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).
 
Miners Leading The League In Both Goals And Assists
Miners Zeta McDannels (seven goals-tied first MW/55th NCAA) and Dannique Wilson (six assists, 42nd NCAA) lead the Mountain West in goals and assists, respectively. There's still plenty of soccer left and things are tight, but the last time the same school in the MW was responsible for both the leading goal scorer and player atop the assist list was in 2018 with then member Boise State accomplishing the feat.
 
Don't Forget About The GK
Sophomore GK Savanah Finley has been sensational as well, topping the conference in goals against average (0.701-44th NCAA) and save percentage (82.7 percent-55th NCAA) while rating second in the Mountain West for shutouts (five-55th NCAA). She has played almost every minute this season, also placing second in the category (1155:41-85th) in the league.
 
Finley's Moving On Up
Sophomore GK Savanah Finley has registered five shutouts on the year, lifting her career total to nine. That effort puts her alone in sixth place while she now stands three back of Chandra Morden (12, 2008-11).
 
Winning Close
The Miners have six wins with a one-goal differential this season, showing the ability to close out contests in style. That equals the most such victories in a decade. The last time UTEP enjoyed more triumphs with just a one-tally difference was in 2015 with seven such wins.
 
More Than Double Last Year's Win Total
UTEP's eight 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 the Miners have played just five matches at home. In fact, seven of the first 10 tilts were on the road before UTEP went 2-0 on a two-contest 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.
 
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 is 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 (12) and Gianna Wilbur (10) have at least 10 starts.
 
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 goal differential (+11, second/78th), goals against average (0.692-first/35th), save percentage (83.3-first/36th), shutout percentage (.462-third/64th) and win-lost-tied percentage (.731-second/35th). Individually, Haylee Lancaster, Zeta McDannels and Macey Williams all sport two game-winning goals (third/92nd). Dannique Wilson ties for the league lead in assists (six-42nd) while McDannels shares it for goals (seven-60th). GK Savanah Finley has been sensational and sits among the leaders for multiple categories, including goalie minutes (1155:41, second/85th), GAA (0.701-first/44th), save percentage (82.7 percent-first/55th) and shutouts (five-second/55th).
 
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 44 of the past 46 matches, missing a combined 20 minutes of action since the beginning of 2024. Additionally, she has started every game (64) of her career.
 
A Trio Of Captains
Seniors Kialie Hudson and Ashlyn Neireiter and junior Ashlee Mora 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 293-241-58. That is aided by a record of 8-2-3 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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