EL PASO, Texas – The UTEP soccer team will play host to New Mexico for the first time in nine years in its lone conference contest of the week at 7 p.m. MT Saturday. The match against the Lobos (7-4-3, 4-2-1 MW) will cap a four-game stretch for the Miners (8-4-3, 2-4 MW) against programs that occupy the top four spots in the Mountain West that sport a combined conference record of 18-4-4.
 
Tickets may be purchased by calling (915) 747-UTEP, at the gate or by visiting the UTEP Athletics website.
 
Fans unable to make it may watch the match exclusively on MW+ (subscription required).
 
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Looking To Get Back On Track
For the first time in 2026, the Miners are facing some true adversity. UTEP has dropped three consecutive contests, but it should be noted that the defeats came at the hands of teams with a combined league record of 14-2-2. Furthermore, two of the three setbacks in the sequence came on the road. The Orange and Blue were clipped at Hawai'i (2-1, Oct. 11) before falling to first-place Colorado College (1-0, Oct. 15) and at Wyoming (2-0, Oct. 18).
 
Conference Honors Have Stacked 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 New Mexico
New Mexico boasts a mark of 7-4-3 on the year, including 4-2-1 within league play to have a share of fourth place with 13 points. The Lobos are unbeaten over their past three tilts (2-0-1), most recently dropping UNLV, 2-0, on Oct. 18. UNM has been dominant at home (6-1-1), but it stands just 1-3-2 on the road in 2026. Nicole Anderson (eight goals-first MW/53rd NCAA) and Presley Devey (six goals-sixth MW) key the offensive attack while Celina Frenz (three), Fiona Jenkins (three) and Alysa Whelchel (two) have also found the back of the net multiple times this season. Whelchel has done damage with passing as well, registering a team-high five assists (fourth MW/97th NCAA). Devey rates second on the squad with four helpers. Alyson Campbell has started all 14 matches in net, recording 60 saves (second MW/86th NCAA), a 1.45 GAA and one shutout. The Lobos have been outscored, 10-8, in the opening frame but have come alive after the break with an 18-10 advantage over the final 45 minutes of play. UNM does not play a physical style of soccer, committing only 7.1 fouls per game (first MW/33rd NCAA). Its high-octane attack (1.86 gpg-third/79th), aided by 7.1 shots on goal per game (third MW/58th NCAA) and 15.1 shots per game (fifth MW/76th NCAA) has powered the success as well.
 
Series History With New Mexico
UTEP's history with New Mexico dates to the inception of the program, with the Miners locking up with the Lobos every year from 1996 through 2002. The two sides have played just four times since, with the most-recent matchup coming in 2018. UNM hasn't visited El Paso since 2017, and the program has only made the trip down I-25 three times in the past 24 years.
 
Oh So Close
Senior Dannique Wilson appeared to have her first goal of the campaign late in the contest against Wyoming only to have it taken away after a VAR decision. It was determined that Wilson fouled the defender to gain possession before sliding a shot past Bartel.
 
Dominant At Home
UTEP has dominated the opposition at home, outscoring it 11-2 to produce a stellar 5-1 mark at home. The Miners had gotten off to a 5-0 start for the first time in a decade before falling, 1-0, to Colorado College on Oct. 15. The Tigers' goal was unlucky after a clearing attempt deflected off a player from CC and sent its forward in alone on a breakaway with the perfect ricochet.
 
Picking It Up
Anai Lopez has elevated her play since the start of Mountain West action, tallying a team-high two goals through six 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 16 points (5-0-1), and it is the only program without a league loss. Hawai'i (5-1) is second with 15 points followed by New Mexico (4-2-1) and Wyoming (4-1-1) at 13 points. Air Force is alone in fifth place with 12 points (4-2), followed by Grand Canyon (3-2-1) at 10 points. UC Davis (3-4) with nine points and UTEP at six points (2-4) are close behind. UNLV (1-5-1) at four points, San Jose State (1-6) with three points and Nevada (0-5-1) with one point round out the standings.
 
Progress On The Road
UTEP is a 3-3-3 away from home in 2026, 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
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, 20-12, aided by six shutouts while holding six other foes to a single goal. Helping its cause has been UTEP outshooting the opposition, 204-172, including a stellar 112-91 cushion during the second half. The Miners currently boast a GAA of 0.80, 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 second in the Mountain West with seven goals (87th NCAA). The midfielder also paces the Orange and Blue in points (14), shots (34) and shots on goal (15). 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 (70.0 percent) and junior Macey Williams (65.0 percent) have been extremely accurate with getting their shots on target. Williams boasts 13 shots on goal among 20 total shots while Lancaster has laced 14 of 20 attempts on frame.
 
Sharing Is Caring
Forward Dannique Wilson enters this week tied for second in the Mountain West 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).
 
Don't Forget About The GK
Sophomore GK Savanah Finley has been sensational as well, topping the conference in goals against average (0.809-49th NCAA) and save percentage (82.4 percent-53rd NCAA) while rating fourth in the Mountain West for shutouts (five-77th NCAA). She has played almost every minute this season, also placing first in the category (1335:41-49th) 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 (14) and Gianna Wilbur (11) haven't started every contest, but they do both 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 goals against average (0.800-second/53rd), save percentage (82.9-second/43rd) and shot accuracy (47.5-third/97th). Individually, Haylee Lancaster, Zeta McDannels and Macey Williams all sport two game-winning goals (fourth MW). Dannique Wilson ties for second in the league lead in assists (six-56th) while McDannels shares second for goals (seven-87th). GK Savanah Finley has been sensational and sits among the leaders for multiple categories, including goalie minutes (1335:41, first/49th), GAA (0.809-first/62nd), save percentage (82.4 percent-first/53rd) and shutouts (five-second/77th).
 
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 46 of the past 48 matches, missing a combined 20 minutes of action since the beginning of 2024. Additionally, she has started every game (66) 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 8-4-3 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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