Feb. 28, 2010

EL PASO, TEXAS- The UTEP soccer team kicked off its annual slate of exhibition spring games in fine fashion by playing to a 1-1 draw with 2009 NCAA Tournament participant Arizona State at University Field on Sunday.

The Miners showed plenty of character in the contest, overcoming a 1-0 halftime deficit to pull even in the second stanza after Tess Hall scored off a corner kick. The rising sophomore bent the ball off her service into the back of the net, surprising the Sun Devils’ netminder in the process.

The 60-minute match (two 30 minute periods) was marred by uncharacteristic weather in the area, with rain and wind peppering the field.

UTEP, which will play seven training events throughout the spring, will be back in action when it takes on a squad comprised of Miner alumni at 5 p.m. MT on March 6. The Orange and Blue will then face Pacific-10 power Arizona at 12 p.m. MT on March 7. UTEP will partake in a  7 vs. 7 tournament in Tucson, Ariz. (March 27) before welcoming Eastern New Mexico to town for a 12 p.m. MT match on April 11.

The Miners will venture up the road to challenge I-10 rival New Mexico State at 7 p.m. MT on April 15, and will wrap up the exhibition season at home against an Alberta Provincial team at 1 p.m. MT on April 24.

UTEP has been the epitome for success in recent years, with a school-record eight straight winning seasons. All of those years have featured 10 or more triumphs, and the Miners have been regionally ranked at some point in the campaign for a program-best six consecutive years.