The UTEP soccer team played one of its more impressive games of the season on the way to knocking off No. 25 Colorado College, 2-0, Saturday evening at University Field. Not only did the effort secure the Miners’ fifth straight win, but it also allowed UTEP’s five seniors to cap off their careers at home in fine fashion.

With the victory, the Miners finish a perfect 10-0 at home. Overall, they own a sparkling record of 42-5 in the Sun City since 2002, and much of that credit can go to the passionate fan base. Despite unseasonably colder weather Saturday evening, the El Paso community once again packed the bleachers.

They were boisterous throughout the match, seemingly willing the Orange and Blue to the win.

The triumph marks the second against a ranked team on the campaign- UTEP defeated No. 17 Rice earlier this year-, and improves the Orange and Blue to 14-4 on the season. More importantly, the Miners now stand at 5-2 in Conference USA play and are tied for second place in the league.

Moreover, UTEP picked up its 10th shutout of the season. To put that feat into perspective, consider that the school record entering the 2006 campaign was eight blankings.

“I am thrilled; that was an excellent team we beat,” head coach Kevin Cross said. “We stuck to our game plan, and we got an awesome result. We did a real good job defensively and Cortney Casey gave us a spark off the bench. It was a great way to send our seniors out in style.”

UTEP came out with plenty of energy, as it quickly forced play deep into the Colorado College end of the pitch. Melissa Abraham unleashed a blast, but it was blocked out of harms’ way by the Tigers’ defense.

The Miners threatened again just two minutes later, this time with Brandi Aston applying the pressure. The native of Deerpark, Texas, ripped a shot toward the upper half of the net, but it was snatched out of the air by the Geneva Sills.

Colorado College mounted its first offensive threat at the 18-minute mark. Off of a set piece from about 25 yards out, Amara Wilson drilled a shot destined for the back of the net. UTEP netminder Jessica Salvi had other intentions, punching the ball over the crossbar with a leaping effort.

The Miners wiped out the opportunity on the ensuing corner kick to keep the match scoreless.

UTEP then pushed play back into the Tiger part of the field. Jami Tullius made a nifty turn and sent a pass to the corner for a streaking Anoop Josan. The C-USA assist leader corralled it skillfully and, almost immediately, lofted a cross into the area. Sills left her line to intercept the pass before the Miners could get a head on it.

The Orange and Blue were knocking on the door again just minutes later with Aston deftly leaving a drop pass for Josan. Her blast, though, whistled high.

Salvi was called upon again with five minutes to play in the half. After the Tigers sent a ball into the middle of the box off a corner kick, it bounced around a couple of times before Lauren Talbot suddenly found herself wide open about six yards out.

She drilled a low, hard shot screaming toward the goal. The Jackson Hole, Wyo., product dove to her to right, making a brilliant save.

UTEP controlled possession the remainder of the stanza, but it was unable to beat Sills.

The Orange and Blue were a bit sluggish during the onset of the second half, as the Tigers managed an offensive threat early on in the period. Salvi denied Emily Beans on shot from about 15 yards out, though, preserving the clean slate.

The save breathed life into the Miners, as they seemed to find their rhythm from that point on. Josan vied to register the match’s first tally at the 57-minute mark, but Sills came up with a save.

Just 45 seconds later, a splendid pass from Tullius to Leslie Platz afforded the senior with a tremendous scoring chance. The native of Allen, Texas, rifled a blast but Sills dove to her right to tip it just wide.

Following the save, the pace of the game slowed significantly. Defense dominated on both ends of the field, and as the minutes and seconds ticked off the clock, the tension mounted. Both teams were keenly aware of the importance of the game’s first goal, but neither seemed to be able to do anything about it.

The squads continued to trade blows, and the possibility of overtime seemed to be a plausible one.

UTEP, urged on by the cheers of a rowdy crowd which braved the elements, was determine to strike in regulation. And with 15 minutes to play in the match, it did just that.

After a bad pass by the Tigers, the Miners gained possession just beyond midfield. Platz one-touched a pass to Tullus, who sent a perfect thru ball into the box for Cortney Casey. The Mesa, Ariz., product, who had just entered the game as a sub, won the battle with the defender and took one dribble to compose herself.

With space to operate, Casey fired a blast that blistered past a helpless Sills into the back of the net. The tally was her fifth of the season, but more importantly, it provided the Orange and Blue with a 1-0 advantage.

Sensing that the Tigers were on their heels, the Miners increased their intensity and it paid off. Casey was once again involved, this time as the playmaker.

After UTEP intercepted a pass at midfield, Casey raced up field with nothing but open grass ahead. She headed to the right corner, sucking in the Tiger defense. At the last possible second, Casey lofted a ball to Aston.

The junior controlled the pass and took two dribbles before lacing a shot that snuck past Sills to twickle the twine.

The Tigers, desperate to light up the scoreboard, began sending waves of players up field. It was all for not, though, as they only managed one shot in the final eight minutes.

The lone chance was gobbled up by Salvi, who finished the game with eight saves to notch her fifth shutout of the campaign.

The Miners will take to the road next weekend to wrap up the regular season. They will take on East Carolina on Oct. 27 before squaring off against Marshall on Oct. 29.