Nov. 7, 2007

Box Score

Jami Tullius' golden goal at the 102-minute mark in double overtime lifted the UTEP soccer team to an emotional 3-2 victory against Colorado College in the quarterfinals of the Conference USA women's soccer championship at University Field Wednesday evening. The tally capped an incredible comeback by the Miners, who rallied from a 2-0 deficit with only 33 minutes to play in the match, and set off a celebration for the 1,126 fans in attendance.

Tameka Sumter notched her 11th goal of the campaign to bring the Miners within one at the 58-minute minute mark before Cortney Casey's strike with 12 minutes left evened the match. The effort was the latest second-half display of magic by UTEP, which has now out-scored the opposition 33-9 in the second period of games this year.

The Miners (13-6-2) will take on second-seeded Memphis in the semifinals at 7:30 p.m. on Friday.

Not to be overlooked was the play of senior goalkeeper Brittany Popoff, who made six saves in net to pick up her fourth win of the year. The Tigers' netminder Geneva Sills registered six stops.

"I'm super proud of the team," head coach Kevin Cross said. "That was a phenomenal comeback. We never quit, and showed a lot of character in getting a win against a really tough team."

The Tigers jumped out to a 1-0 lead nine minutes in on an unlucky play for the Orange and Blue. A blast by Alexa Bannerman was blocked by the UTEP defense. The bouncing ball went right to Amara Wilson, who was all alone and laced it past Popoff.

Colorado College pushed its edge to 2-0 nine minutes later, again coutesy of Wilson. A ball was played into space down the left wing, which was tracked down by Bannerman. Bannerman took two dribbles and crossed it to Wilson, who one-touched it past Popoff to put the Miners in a 2-0 hole at the 18-minute mark.

UTEP did not rattle despite facing the two-goal deficit. Rather, they elevated their intensity in an effort to cut into the Tigers' lead. Tullius nearly did that, as Cara Nordin sent the senior streaking in on a partial breakaway. Sills came off her line to cut the angle down, and Tullius' shot trickled just wide.

Laura Hamson then vied for UTEP's first goal, but her blast was saved cleanly by Sills with 15 minutes to play in the period.

In the final 10 minutes of the half, the Tigers tried to extend their advantage but Popofff made a pair of saves to keep the Miners within striking distance. UTEP had one chance in the stretch, but a shot by Jordan Freiberg was turned away by Sills.

The Miners came out inspired in the second half, earning a corner kick one minute in after a blast by Melissa Deliselts forced Sills to make a diving save. UTEP was unable to convert, however, as the Tigers won the battle in the air.

Three minutes later, Chelsea Winbush nailed a header toward the net only to have Sills record the stop. At the 53-minute mark, Hamson used some nifty dribbling to create some space. The C-USA all-freshman team member then fired in on net, but Sills was perfectly positioned to turn away the chance.

UTEP's consistent pressure would pay dividends at the 58-minute mark. From a corner kick, Casey played a low, hard ball into the box. After it was batted around, Sumter controlled it and hammered it home to slice the Tigers' advantage in half.

The Tigers responded with some an offensive opportunity of their own, but Popoff was up to the task on chance by Wilson at the 66-minute mark.

After a shot by Tullius was snatched out of the air by Sills, the Tigers raced up the pitch with numbers on their side. A brilliant pass sent CC's leading goal scorer Tiffany Brown streaking in alone on net. Popoff flew off her line and dove to her right to make a brilliant point-blank stop.

The save proved to be crucial, as the Miners would find the equalizer they were desperately seeking at the 78-minute mark. Casey dribbled down the right wing before unleashing a blast that took a couple of bounces and skipped past Sills and into the back of the net.

Not satisfied by tying the match, UTEP elevated its intensity in an effort to vault ahead. Hamson nearly did just that for the Orange and Blue, drilling a shot that whistled just wide at the 85-minute mark.

With two minutes to play in the match, Popoff came up with her best save of the match. A deflected ball led to a partial breakaway for the Tigers' Emily Beans. Popoff flew off the line, though, and turned away the sophomore with a beautiful stop.

In overtime, the Tigers had the first chance just one minute in. Brown's blast, though, sailed just over the cross bar. The Miners then pushed the ball into the Tigers' portion of the pitch, but Tullius' blast was off target. With six minutes to play in the first overtime period, Casey vied for the match-winner. Her shot, however, crept high.

With 2:59 left in the period, the Miners had a lucky bounce go their way. A shot by Beans beat Popoff, but it clanked off the outside of the post.

In the second overtime, the Orange and Blue controlled possession early and earned a free kick just one minute in. Radcliffe played a ball to Hamson, who tapped it to Tullius. The senior buried the shot for her 47th career goal, sending the Miners to victory.

UTEP will take on No. 2 seed Memphis at 7:30 p.m. in the semifinals of the championship.