Game Book
EL PASO, Texas – Macey Williams blasted home a long free kick (11') and
Savanah Finley registered four saves to help the UTEP soccer team remain unbeaten in 2026 with a 1-0 vanquishing of WCC member San Diego in front of a rowdy 570 fans at University Field Thursday evening. The Miners' unblemished mark through six matches is the longest streak to start the season in 10 years (5-0-2) and tied for the sixth best beginning in program history. The Toreros slipped to 1-2-2 on the campaign after having a two-game undefeated streak halted.
The Miners pounced on the visitors early, registering two shots on goal within the first 11 minutes, including the set-piece tally from Williams. She drilled the shot from distance that overpowered and caught the USD netminder Chloe Walls off guard. Walls handled it initially before lifting the ball up as it crossed over the goal line in the air.
That goal, the first as a Miner for the Saint Peter's transfer, proved to be all that UTEP needed, with the defense locking down the visitors. Finley was credited with four stops, three of which were high caliber. Her quality helped the Miners post their third straight shutout and fifth clean sheet in six games to start the year. UTEP has now outscored the opposition, 10-1, on the campaign, including 8-0 in front of its home crowd, while already surpassing its total win total (3-9-5) from 2025.
"The team has deserved and earned this, especially the senior class and then those that have chosen us as transfers and freshmen," UTEP head coach
Gibbs Keeton said. "They're the one that deserve the accolades for what we have done, but it's still early in the season and we're taking it game by game. For us, it felt great to be back home and get a win at home. That was really more so what we were focusing on."
The Miners generated the first chance of the contest with a soft flick from
Dannique Wilson setting up
Haylee Lancaster. She took a second to compose herself and laced a shot (8') that forced a diving save by Walls, who stretched out fully to send it just wide with her fingertips. UTEP was unable to convert on the ensuing corner (8').
The Orange and Blue continued to pressure, winning a free kick in front of their bench. Williams struck it well, and the shot (11') sailed in with plenty of pace on Walls. She corralled it initially, but as she lifted the ball toward her, she went too far and it crossed the line in the air to set off a celebration as the home side pulled in front, 1-0.
Finley was called upon for the first time in the 27th minute, delivering a diving save to deny Tamia Graham on a set piece. The try had been set up by a foul just outside the box, but Finley made it a moot point. The reigning conference defensive player of the week had a much easier play when she scooped up an attempt (31') by Marissa Morales. UTEP and USD continued to trade possession as the half wore on, allowing the Miners to carry a 1-0 cushion into the locker room.
Armed with the one-goal lead heading into the second half, the Orange and Blue used a clinical performance to keep the visitors at bay throughout large chunks of the frame. On the rare occasion that the Toreros had a clean look, Finley was there to make the big save.
One such occasion was off a turnover by the Miners in their portion of the pitch. The giveaway allowed Hailey Vermilyea space to work with from the top of the 18-yard box. She rocked a shot seemingly destined for top bins, but Finley leapt to redirect it over the bar. UTEP took care of the service on the corner kick.
Less than four minutes later, there was another golden opportunity. Once again, Finley was ready for the moment. She dove and denied the try (56') by Veronica Osejo by nudging it wide. UTEP raced to the loose ball, eventually conceding a corner kick, but it took care of business.
Alana Lawless-Felarca created an offensive opportunity for the Miners, but her foray (62') was wide of the mark. UTEP enjoyed possession for good chunks of time in the second stanza, but it never lost its edge. There was a harrowing moment with a bouncing ball in the box. Finley punched it up into the air and then eventually tracked it down.
The Miners' marking was sensational, with USD failing to record a shot on goal over the final 24 minutes of play. UTEP will be idle for a week before playing the first of four straight road tilts with a 5:30 p.m. MT matchup at UTRGV. The Miners will also play at Texas A&M-CC (9/13), at NM State (9/17) and at UNLV (9/24) during the road trip.
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