EL PASO, Texas – The UTEP soccer team will conclude the 2026 season when it plays host to Grand Canyon on "Senior Night" at University Field at 7 p.m. MT Friday. There will be a post-match ceremony for eight student-athletes (Cassie Garza, Kialie Hudson, Shawna Larson, Alana Lawless-Felarca, Ashlyn Neireiter, Olivia Roskos, Maya Vitoria and Dannique Wilson) with the focus for the Miners (8-7-3, 2-7 MW) fixated on toppling the Lopes (8-6-4, 4-4-1 MW) to send the seniors out in style.
 
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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Shooting to Finish Strong
The Miners will be looking to cap the 2026 campaign, which featured the best start in 21 years and the most wins since 2019 (10-7-3), in style against Grand Canyon on Friday night. A victory would also ensure the most conference triumphs since 2019 when they went 5-4-1. That would be quite the feat given the step-up in competition, with 2026 being UTEP's first year as members of the Mountain West Conference.
 
Aiming To Extend "Senior Night" Streak
UTEP is 1-0-1 on "Senior Night" the past two years. A win or a tie would mark the longest unbeaten streak for the situation since a five-season run from 2016-20 (3-0-2).
 
Talking Home Success
The Miners enter their final home contest of the campaign at 5-2 at University Field, including 2-2 on the year within the Mountain West. UTEP is already assured of its second home winning mark in the past three years, but a triumph could match its most in the Sun City since 2019 (6-3-1). If UTEP can secure that win, it would also ensure the first home league record above .500 since the COVID-19-shortened 2020 campaign (2-0-1).
 
Get To Know Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon stands 8-6-4 on the season, including 4-4-1 within league play. The Lopes have thrived at home (7-1-3, 4-0-1 MW), but they struggled mightily on the road (1-5-1, 0-4). In fact, GCU hasn't scored a goal in any of its four league road contests to date, including falling, 1-0, last time out at Colorado College on a PK. It marked the third PK by the opposition against the Lopes, all of which have been converted. GCU, meanwhile, hasn't attempted a PK. Ellie Johannes is the top threat offensively, pacing the squad in goals (seven-sixth MW), assists (five-fifth MW), points (19-fourth MW), shots (45) and shots on goal (23). Her shot accuracy of 51.1 percent is seventh in the league. Sophia Rubano (five goals) and Amanda Adams (three goals) have also found the back of the net on multiple occasions, with Adams also dishing out a quartet of assists. Emma Knack has been a brick wall, pacing the conference in both GAA (.854-69th NCAA) and save percentage (81.3-59th NCAA). As a squad, GCU is among the Mountain West leaders and top-100 nationally for multiple categories, including assists per game (1.67-first/67th), GAA (.833-first/55th) and save percentage (83.7-first/31st). Playing cleanly has been an issue with 19 yellow cards across the board (second most in MW/64th NCAA).
Series History With Grand Canyon
UTEP is a perfect 4-0 against Grand Canyon all-time, winning twice at home and a pair of times on the road. The Miners and Lopes squared off four times over a five-year span (2015-19), with the Orange and Blue holding a +6 goal differential (11-5) in those contests. Friday's matchup will mark the first between the programs in El Paso since 2018, a 2-1 UTEP triumph.
 
Defense Provided The Offense
UTEP scored four goals in its most-recent two-game road trip, and three of them were courtesy of the defenders. Ashlyn Neireiter converted a pair of penalty kicks, one at Nevada and one at UC Davis. Macey Williams had a rocket off a set piece that went into upper 90 country.
 
Made Progress On The Road
UTEP finished 3-4-3 away from home in 2026, surpassing the total combined road triumphs over the past three seasons (two). Furthermore, it marked the most road wins in a campaign since 2019 (4-4-2).
 
All About That Offense
The Miners have registered 24 goals to go along with 20 assists. That is the most for both of those categories since 2019 (28 goals, 29 helpers).
 
Getting Defensive
The Miners sport a GAA of 1.11, which would tie for seventh 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 has thrived in her second season with the Orange and Blue. She is tied for seventh in the Mountain West with seven goals. The midfielder also paces the Orange and Blue in points (14), shots (40) and shots on goal (18). 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 all have multiple tallies. It marks the first time since 2019 (seven) that UTEP has had at least six players contribute multiple goals in the same season. Ashlyn Neireiter is second with four, followed by Haylee Lancaster, Anai Lopez, and Macey Williams with three each. Valeria Agudelo has tallied two goals. Neireiter had a pair of goals, both on penalty kicks, in the most recent roadswing. Lancaster and Williams both scored on that trip as well.
 
Hitting The Target
Freshman Haylee Lancaster (68.0 percent) and junior Macey Williams (56.0 percent) have been extremely accurate with getting their shots on target. Williams boasts 14 shots on goal among 25 total shots while Lancaster has laced 17 of 25 attempts on frame.
 
Sharing Is Caring
Forward Dannique Wilson is tied for third in the Mountain West in assists with six (83rd NCAA). The effort has 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).
 
Staying Busy
Savanah Finley has been especially busy of late, registering a season-high-tying seven saves in consecutive contests. She has had five straight games with at least five saves.
 
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). 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
Six Miners have started every match of the season, affording head coach Gibbs Keeton some much-needed continuity in the starting XI. Alana Lawless-Felarca (17), Kialie Hudson (15), Haylee Lancaster (12), Gianna Wilbur (12) and Avery Easley (11) haven't started every contest, but they all have at least 10 starts.
 
In The Rankings
The Miners' effort in 2026 has put them among the Mountain West leaders for save percentage (79.4-fourth/93rd). Individually, Dannique Wilson ties for seventh in the league in assists (six-81st). Savanah Finley has racked up 1605:41 minutes played in net (first/36th) and boasts 75 total saves (second/71st).
 
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 49 of the past 51 matches, missing a combined 20 minutes of action since the beginning of 2024. Additionally, she has started every game (69) 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 293-243-58.
 
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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