EL PASO, Texas – Off to its best start (2-0) in 13 years, the UTEP soccer team will open the road portion of its slate when it competes at Tarleton State (6 p.m. MT/7 p.m. CT Thursday) and at ACU (12 p.m. MT/1 p.m. CT Sunday). The matches are the first of three straight away from home, with the Miners completing the road swing at Northern Arizona (2 p.m. MT, Aug. 30).
 
Get To Know Tarleton State
Tarleton State is 0-0-1 on the year after securing a 2-2 tie at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in its season opener on Aug. 12. Grace Berry and Zahra Friess both found the back of the net. GKs Emma Barnes and Rylie Bloomfield split time, with each yielding a goal in their respective half. Barnes, though, had the lion's share (six of seven) of the saves. The Texans are in their fifth year as a program, and they have been making big strides. After posting a combined mark of 10-21-6 in its first two seasons, TSU went 16-15-9 in the past two. That includes a record of 7-6-6 in 2025, aided by a solid showing of 5-3-4 when playing at home. The Texans returned 12 players from last year while adding 10 newcomers. Erik Solberg, who has an extensive head coaching background, is in his first year at the helm of the program after Pete Cuadrado left to become the head coach at Coastal Carolina.
 
Series History With Tarleton State
UTEP is 1-0 all-time vs. Tarleton State, posting a 1-0 victory last year at University Field.
 
Get To Know ACU
Abilene Christian is 1-0 on the year, blasting Jackson State, 3-1, in a neutral-site match in their season opener on Aug. 15. Mikayla Abrenica, Alliyah Anderson and Addison Briscoe all scored for the Wildcats while Bella Medrano registered four saves in net. ACU brought back 12 players from last year, including five starters, and it is looking to build off qualifying for the WAC tournament for the first time in five years.  The Wildcats are led by fourth-year head coach Stephen Salas. ACU tuned up for the year with a scoreless draw at home against 2025 NCAA Tournament participant Texas State. It will lock up with NM State on Thursday prior to playing host to the Miners on Sunday. The Wildcats were 6-11-3 last year, but they did go 5-1-2 at home.
 
Series History With ACU
UTEP is 2-6-4 all-time against Abilene Christian, with the two programs squaring off every year but one (2020) since 2013. The Miners were edged, 1-0, in the season opener last year (8/14/25).
 
Best Start In 13 Years
The Miners bested Lamar, 2-0, in their season opener on Aug. 12 before following that up with a 5-0 romp against Sul Ross State last time out on Aug. 16. The effort has allowed UTEP to begin the season at 2-0 for the first time since 2013. The Miners outshot the opposition, 42-3, including a whopping 23-2 cushion for shots on goal.
 
Goals Galore
UTEP erupted for five goals against Sul Ross State (8/16), marking its most in a contest since a 6-1 rout of Lubbock Christian (8/17/18). Overall, the Orange and Blue have produced seven goals on the campaign. That is the most tallies through two matches since 2007 (eight). Defender Ashlyn Neireiter has a team-leading two goals while Valeria Agudelo, Bethlehem Daniel, Anai Lopez and Zeta McDannels all have put away chances as well. The Miners have also been the beneficiary of an own goal.
 
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The Miners were credited with seven assists in the 5-0 romp of Sul Ross State (8/16), equaling the eighth-highest total for a single game in school history. Ella Rorabaugh and Dannique Wilson, who led the team with four helpers a year ago, each notched a pair to lead the way. Avery Easley, Sasha Lucero and Anai Lopez each had one assist. It was the most helpers since UTEP compiled 10 vs. Alabama A&M (9/19/10) 16 years ago.
 
Back-To-Back Games With Multiple Goals
UTEP has scored at least two goals in both games to begin the season, something that it hasn't achieved out of the gates since 2013. The result has been a scoring offense of 3.50, allowing the Miners to share the top spot in the Mountain West with Air Force and rate tied for 21st in the nation.
 
Defense Doing Its Thing
For the second time in the past three years, UTEP registered consecutive shutouts to commence the campaign. The Miners are one of 62 teams in the country to have yet to yield a goal to this point, with sophomore GK Savanah Finley recording a pair of saves.
 
Picking Up Where We Left Off
After registering five shutouts last season, the most since also producing five in 2022, UTEP began the 2026 campaign with a pair of clean sheets.
 
Good Start At Home
UTEP opened the season with a pair of home wins, improving it to 179-80-25 all-time at University Field since the program's inception. Helping the cause is an elevation of 4,200 feet and a passionate fan base.
 
Turning Over A New Leaf
UTEP has two wins in as many matches, putting it one shy of equaling its total (three) from a year ago. Furthermore, the Miners are more than halfway (seven) toward last season's goal total (13) after the explosive offense to kick off the campaign.
 
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 33 of the past 36 matches, missing a combined 20 minutes of action since the beginning of 2024. Additionally, she has started every game (53) of her career.
 
A Trio Of Captains
Seniors Kialie Hudson and Ashlyn Neireiter and junior Ashlee Mora will have leadership roles in 2026, with each being named a captain for the team.
 
FIFA 2026 U-20 Women's World Cup Beckons For Mora
UTEP standout Ashlee Mora is slated to represent Mexico at the upcoming 2026 U-20 Women's World Cup in Poland. The event is slated to run from Sept. 5-27.
 
31st Season Of UTEP Soccer
The 2026 campaign marks the 31st season in program history, with the Miners sporting an all-time record of 287-239-55.
 
Keeton Era Hits Year Four
The 2026 season will also serve as 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. Tino Gamueda will be in his first campaign as a graduate assistant. He will also coach UTEP's goalkeepers.
 

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