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EDINBURG, Texas – Zeta McDannels' first career brace (69', 73') lifted the undefeated UTEP soccer team to a thrilling 2-1 come-from-behind victory at UTRGV Thursday evening. The Vaqueros (3-4) struck first behind Amy Romero (64'), but the Miners (5-0-2) rallied with two goals in four minutes on the way to matching their best start to a season since 2016.
 
Sophomore GK Savanah Finley contributed a campaign-high-tying five saves while Ashlyn Neireiter blocked a shot at an empty net for a team save. The Orange and Blue have won three consecutive contests for the first time in seven years. UTEP also marched to 2-0-2 in hostile territory, its longest unbeaten streak out of the gates on the road since 2016 when it was also 2-0-2.
 
The Miners outshot the home side, 16-10, including 10-7 for shots on goal. Veronica Pacione registered seven saves for UTRGV, which also had a team save.
 
McDannels became the first UTEP player with a second-half brace since Vic Bohdan vs. SFA in 2017. The Miners also posted a comeback road triumph for the first time since erasing a 2-1 halftime deficit in an eventual 3-2 triumph against Marshall in 2019.
 
Freshman Bethlehem Daniel was credited with an assist on the first goal while fellow classmate Haylee Lancaster set up the second tally.
 
"Our team continues to grow in confidence, and you can see that in the way we are approaching and competing in road games," UTEP head coach Gibbs Keeton said. "A comeback win on the road adds another really important chapter to what has been an incredible non-conference story for this group. Today was a complete team performance. Zeta's brace was obviously huge, and our two freshman game changers stepping up with two assists shows the depth and belief we have throughout our team. At no point did it feel like we were out of the game, and that mentality says a lot about our group. It was a great result for the Miners, more importantly, it was another step forward in establishing our identity as a team."
 
UTEP created the first chance as Anai Lopez cruised through the defense. She laced a shot (3') which trickled wide. Ella Rorabaugh tested the keeper with a blast (10') at the near post which was turned away by Pacione. The Miners continued to pressure, with a try (18') by Dannique Wilson being scooped up by Pacione.
 
A free kick allowed the Vaqueros to have their first opportunity of the contest. Sienna Church's attempt (20') was pushed out by Finley. There was a bit of a scramble that ensued, but UTEP's defense blocked away the follow-up shot from Melany Gallegos (20') and then subsequently won a throw-in.
 
UTEP was back on the offensive as Avery Easley looped (27') in a ball on frame that forced another stop from Pacione. Macey Williams then lifted an attempt (31') that sailed high off a free kick. The home side then bolted up the pitch, and a bit of miscommunication led to Finley being caught out of the net. UTRGV's Sienna Gillespie seemed poised to capitalize, but Neireiter positioned herself well to come up with the team save by blocking it with her body wide of the frame. Finley then denied Natalie Singleton's blast (33') off the corner, redirecting it wide. Yarisah Perez then struck a shot (34') that kissed the top of the bar and sailed over harmlessly.
 
The Miners had a little flurry of their own a couple minutes later. Lancaster's spinning rocket (38') resulted in a corner kick. There was a quality service into the area, but Shawna Larson's shot (38') was blocked and the follow-up by Neireiter was errant. Finley was called upon again on a long-distance attempt (40') from Church, which she easily handled.
 
Lancaster sent in a skipping shot (43') that Pacione tracked, and the first half finished at nil-nil.  
 
There was a much more measured pace of play to start the second stanza, with the Miners methodically moving the ball up the pitch. UTEP also did well to jump into passing lanes to end the threat. Easley tried to change the deadlock, but her long-distance attempt (56') was collected cleanly chest high by Pacione.
 
UTRGV's initial attack of the second half put it in front, with a floating shot (64') from the left wing by Romero that somehow got past the outstretched hands of Finley and into the back of the net. The tally broke the scoreless deadlock, with the Vaqueros snaring the 1-0 lead.
 
McDannels and company ensured that it would not last long. Off a corner kick, Daniel fed the ball to the far post. McDannels headed it back toward the far corner of the net, with the ball blistering past a helpless Pacione to tie the tilt with her third goal of the campaign.
 
Having found the equalizer, UTEP dialed up its intensity and quickly moved in front. A good rush led to Lancaster dribbling through the defense and then sending it back toward McDannels. She took one touch and then drilled (73') it home to lift the Miners in front, 2-1.
 
The Orange and Blue nearly made it 3-1 off another corner kick but Daniel's try was kept out by the defense for the team save. It proved to be a moot point as the Miners possessed down the stretch. Finley was only asked to step up once, and she did with a stop vs. Anuhea Aalona in the 84th minute.
 
The Miners will put their perfect mark on the line at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at 11 a.m. MT Sunday.
 

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For complete coverage of UTEP women's soccer, be sure to follow the Miners on social media at @UTEPSoccer (Twitter), @utepminerssoccer (Instagram) and on Facebook or visit the official home of UTEP Athletics at UTEPMiners.com.