Led by Tameka Sumter’s two goals and a stifling defense, the UTEP soccer team emerged with a 4-0 win at Marshall to wrap up the regular season in fine fashion on Sunday afternoon.

It marks the Miners’ school-record 11th shutout on the campaign, while the triumph improves the Orange and Blue to 15-5 (6-3 C-USA) on the year.

Junior Brittany Popoff recorded six saves on the way to not only registering her fourth shutout of the season, but making some history in the process. It served as her 35th-career win, placing her atop the list for most career wins by a UTEP netminder in the 11-year history of the program.

“I am really proud of the team,” head coach Kevin Cross said. “We need to carry this momentum over to the Conference USA tournament this up-coming week.”

After a slow start led to a setback at East Carolina on Friday, the Orange and Blue were determined to dominate in all phases of the game from the first whistle against the Herd.

Junior forward Brandi Aston ensured that the Miners would indeed christen the contest on a high note, as she lit up the scoreboard just 3:23 into the game.

Ashleigh Decker, who has been a threat with her booming passes from set pieces throughout the season, sent one of her signature balls deep into the MU box. Aston won the ball between a couple of Thundering Herd defenders, then proceeded to hammer it home past Rachel Huff to afford UTEP a 1-0 lead.

Sensing that Marshall was on its heels, the Miners went for the knockout punch just six minutes later. This time it was Sumter who provided the fireworks, with Jami Tullius serving as the playmaker.

Tullius chested a bouncing ball to control it and then deftly slid a pass with plenty of precision to Sumter. The fantastic freshman drilled a shot screaming toward the net that blistered past a diving Huff and into the left corner of the goal.

Armed with the two-goal advantage, the Miners turned their focus to ball possession the remainder of the period. Couple that with a stifling defense, and it was no surprise that the two squads entered the locker rooms with the score 2-0 in favor of UTEP.

During the break, the Orange and Blue coaching staff preached to the team the importance of not letting up in the regular season’s final stanza. The Miners took the message to heart, as they continued to smother any glimmer of a Thundering Herd offensive opportunity with tight marking and by winning practically every ball.

On the other end of the pitch, crisp passing and well-timed runs resulted in plenty of scoring chances for UTEP.

Sumter was up to her old tricks at the 62-minute mark, this time simply wanting it more than any of the MU defenders. C-USA assist leader Anoop Josan was the instigator, playing a beautiful, lofting ball high into the box off of a corner kick.

The San Antonio, Texas, native leapt high above the pack, heading it in into upper 90’s country for her team-leading 13th goal of the campaign.

The 13 tallies establish a single-season record for goals by a freshman, breaking Christine McCartney's record of 12 set in 2003. Overall, it equals the fifth-highest sum in program annals.

The Miners added a fourth goal for good measure at the 85-minute mark, courtesy of Lauree Thibaut.

After a Melissa Abraham blast was turned away by Huff, Thibaut was there to tap in the loose change. It served as the Beaumont, Texas, product’s third strike of the season, who was rewarded for following her teammate’s shot as any good forward should.

Popoff and the defense did the rest, as the Westbank, B.C. native made a pair of saves down the stretch to preserve the shutout.

UTEP returns to action this week when it travels to Dallas, Texas, to compete in the Conference USA tournament.