Game Book
LARAMIE, Wyo. – The UTEP soccer team was upended at Wyoming, 2-0, Sunday afternoon.
The Miners (8-4-3, 2-4 MW) were deadlocked with the Cowgirls (11-3-1, 4-1-1 MW) through 45 minutes of action before the home side tallied twice after the break. Lauren Westwood (57') and Kiley Ballek (82') snuck shots past UTEP GK
Savanah Finley, who was strong in defeat. She recorded six saves (all in the second half), including a couple from right on top of her. UTEP racked up 13 shots, including six on target, but Wyoming netminder Hayley Bartel turned away every chance for the clean sheet.
The Miners did appear to get on the board late in the tilt, only to have a VAR decision take what would've been
Dannique Wilson's first goal of the season off the board. It was determined that Wilson fouled the defender to gain possession before sliding a shot past Bartel.
UTEP pressured early, with
Anai Lopez winning a free kick. A service into the area found the head of
Ashlyn Neireiter, but the shot (3') was high.
Dannique Wilson then floated a try (5') which forced a leaping stop by Bartel. Wyoming generated its first offensive pressure with a corner kick (7') that was handled easily by the Miners.
Macey Williams had the Orange and Blue back on the attack with a line-drive attempt (9') off a free kick, which Bartel tracked. She had another chance on a set piece, but this time the shot (12') carried high.
The Cowgirls tried to probe UTEP's defense off a turnover, but the Miners closed quickly to force a shot (23') from Hadley Linder to go errant. Wilson had a tremendous chance following a throw-in. She spun past the defense and laced the shot (27') that went just over the bar. UTEP then won a corner kick (34') only to have Bartel punch it out of harm's way.
Wyoming nearly got on the board late in the stanza after a ball into the area deflected off the head of a UTEP defender. It redirected on target and fortunately harmlessly clanked off the post and away. The Miners then cleared the ball away, sending the match to halftime tied, 0-0.
Finley showed off sensational skill with a point-blank save (46') from closer than the penalty spot, robbing Alyssa Glover. She then calmly collected a shot from Kiley Ballek (47') after another foray into the area.
Zeta McDannels tried to break the deadlock with a header (51') that was handled by Bartel.
Wyoming went back on the offensive, and this time it got on the board. A corner kick service was headed (57') past Finley by Lauren Westwood.
The Cowgirls pressured after their tally, but Finley denied Brooke Brown (60'). UTEP was in search of the equalizer, but a through ball (63') off a header bounced too far ahead. The Orange and Blue kept at it, earning a corner kick. After an initial clearing attempt failed,
Alana Lawless-Felarca drilled a shot (65') that was blocked.
Lopez dribbled through the defense, but her shot (76') trickled wide. She then possessed after UTEP won the ball in midfield. Lopez quickly assessed the situation and fired a shot (79') that Wedel smothered in the left corner.
Wyoming tacked onto its lead after a wild sequence. Finley delivered consecutive stops from right on top of her, but the rebound off the second save went directly to Ballek. She controlled it before tapping it home.
The Miners looked like they were on the board two minutes later, but a goal by Wilson was erased following a VAR decision. It was determined that Wilson fouled the defender to win possession of the ball before scoring.
UTEP kept coming, with both McDannels (83') and
Shawna Larson (85') forcing Bartel into two saves as Wyoming held on for the 2-0 triumph.
The Miners will look to get back on track when they play host to New Mexico at 7 p.m. MT Saturday.
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