Oct. 28, 2007

Box Score

In a hard-fought match, the UTEP soccer team rallied from a 1-0 deficit at the half to earn a 1-1 tie against East Carolina (9-3-4, 3-2-2) at University Field Sunday afternoon. Anoop Josan scored on a laser beam blast off a free kick at the 67-minute mark to force overtime.

The effort makes the Miners 10-6-2, 4-2-1 C-USA, on the year and assures UTEP a spot in the Conference USA tournament which will be held in El Paso from Nov. 7-11. Entering the final weekend of play, the Miners are tied for third place in the 12-team league.

UTEP dominated possession of play and registered eight shots on goal compared to just three for the Pirates. Senior goaltender Brittany Popoff, who replaced Jessica Salvi at halftime, finished with two saves. ECU's Amber Campbell made seven stops.

"East Carolina is an excellent squad," UTEP head coach Kevin Cross said. "We played extremely hard, but weren't able to finish some of our chances."

As expected, there was a defensive tone at the beginning of the match. Both teams were content to feel each other out, not wanting to commit a mistake which would lead to a goal.

UTEP managed the first offensive chance of the match eight minutes in, with Cortney Casey testing Campbell. The ECU keeper was up to the task, making the relatively easy save.

At the other end of the pitch, Salvi came off her line twice to intercept crosses before the Pirates were able to get to the ball.

As the half wore on, offensive opportunities were few and far in between. Lauren Hamson had a good look at the goal with 25 minutes to play in the period, but her blast blistered high. Ten minutes later, it was Chelsea Winbush's turn. The sophomore's shot was off the mark, however, keeping the game scoreless.

With a little more than 13 minutes to play in the half, the Pirates were the beneficiaries of a strange play that afforded them a 1-0 lead.

Alexis Foltz lofted a shot toward the net that knuckled in on Salvi. The ball hung in the air, and Salvi mistimed her jump. The senior momentarily got her hands on the ball, but it trickled out and into the back of the net.

The unlucky play did not demoralize UTEP, which stuck to the game plan. The patient attack led to a pair of good scoring chances in the final five minutes of the half.

Cara Nordin was turned away by Campbell at the 41-minute mark, which was followed by the ECU netminder denying Casey.

The good pressure at the end of the period allowed the Miners to head into the break with confidence high despite the 1-0 deficit.

At the onset of the second half, it was evident early on that the Pirates, armed with the one-goal advantage, were content to sag defensively. ECU dropped plenty of players, making it very difficult for UTEP to generate offense.

At the 58-minute mark, the Miners nearly found the equalizer. Off a set piece, Casey lobbed a ball into the box. The ball bounced off Campbell, but she recovered to grab it before Jami Tullius could bury the rebound.

UTEP continued to pressure, with Casey lifting a cross to the far post intended for Hamson. The freshman was unable to get her head on the ball, however, and the ball sailed out of bounds.

The persistent attack paid off in the form of the match-tying-goal with a little more than 23 minutes to play in the half. A hand ball on ECU afforded the Miners a free kick just outside the box.

Josan stood over the ball and unleashed an absolute rocket that sailed over the wall and into upper 90's territory past a helpless Campbell.

The tally energized an already fired-up UTEP squad, which continued to control possession and play in the Pirates' portion of the pitch.

Nordin vied to vault the Miners ahead with 15 minutes to play, but Campbell made the stop. Two minutes later, UTEP earned three consecutive corner kicks, but ECU cleared the ball out of danger each time.

The Pirates then mounted their own offensive opportunity, but Amanda Broz's blast went just wide.

With three minutes to play, Casey lasered a pass toward Tameka Sumter, who had snuck in on the back post. The sophomore stretched, but was unable to get her foot on the ball.

In the final minute, Josan sent a ball to Tullius, who one-touched it to Hamson. The freshman streaked in on Campbell, who made a brilliant save. The rebound came back to Hamson, who rushed to get a shot before the ECU netminder was able to get back in position. In her haste, Hamson's attempt sailed high.

With the match headed to overtime, both teams tightened things defensively. Most of the period was played in the middle of the pitch.

The Pirates had the only chance of the stanza, with a header by Foltz knocked away by Popoff and out of bounds. UTEP won the battle in the air on the ensuing corner kick to send the match into double overtime.

In double OT, ECU earned a corner kick less than 30 seconds into the period. The Miners once again showed their prowess in the air, heading the ball out of danger.

After a couple of minutes in which neither squad was able to muster much of anything, UTEP picked up its intensity and played the final five minutes of the tilt in Pirate territory.

Although UTEP did not officially register a shot in that time frame, it certainly had its chances. A couple of crosses came up empty with three minutes to play.

In the final 30 seconds a ball was lobbed into the box by Neresa Taylor. Tullius did everything in her power to get a shot off, but was unable to do so as the Pirates cleared the ball toward midfield.

UTEP will be back in action at Houston on Nov. 2 at 6 p.m.