Aug. 27, 2010

Final Stats |  Photo Gallery by Ivan Pierre Aguirre 

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The Bulldogs (1-2-0) staked the early advantage on a strike by Claudia Cardenas (17:54) and then made it 2-0 after Laura Dodd scored at 53:03. UTEP regrouped nicely, with Katie Dorman tallying her first goal of the campaign off a nice feed from Anoop Josan at 67:17.

The home side nearly found the equalizer less than a minute later, with a Brittany Kindzierski shot screaming toward upper 90's country. It sailed over FSU netminder Kaitlyn Revel only to clank off the crossbar and over the arc harmlessly.

The Miners, who finished with 11 shots in the game, continued to pressure down the stretch but could not complete the comeback.

Reigning Conference USA Defensive Player of the Week Chandra Morden registered five saves for the Miners, while Revel compiled four stops. Fresno State also was credited with a team save, which came after a Dorman header was cleared off the goal line at 8:18.

"Fresno State was first to the play," UTEP head coach Kevin Cross said. "They put a lot of pressure on us, and we didn't respond to it. We'll get it corrected and look to bounce back on Sunday."

Fresno State created the initial opportunity of the contest, earning a corner kick at 1:54. The Miners' stop troops were up to the task, though, in clearing away the service.

The Bulldogs retained possession in the ensuing minute, and Kendall VanDine ripped a shot on target. Morden was well positioned and cleanly handled the chance.

UTEP then went on the offensive, with crisp passing putting the Bulldogs on their heels. Off a corner kick service by Josan, Dorman leapt and hammered a header which streaked in on net. The shot bested Revel but in a play that would sum up the night, the ball was blocked at the cusp of the mouth by an FSU defender.

The unlucky sequence loomed large some seven minutes later, with a sequence of passes by the Bulldogs affording Cardenas a good look on goal. She managed to touch the ball past Morden into the empty net to afford the visitors a 1-0 lead at 17:54.

UTEP regrouped and generated several scoring opportunities over the final 25-plus minutes of the period but it could not find the equalizer before the break. Tess Hall rocketed a shot just wide of the net at 25:52. Kindzierski had a shot blocked at 33:15, and then Revel corralled a chance by her at 34:34. The sophomore continued to pester the Bulldog netminder, forcing her to come up with another stop in the 36th minute.

UTEP opened up the second stanza much like it ended the first, controlling possession and dictating tempo.

Off a set piece Josan rifled a shot which Revel bobbled, but she recovered to grab it before the Miners could pounce on the loose ball.

The unfortunate play gained importance when the Bulldogs managed to tack on a second goal. Bradlee DeShane headed up the right wing and crossed it into the area toward Dodd. She extended her foot and one-timed it past Morden, making the score 2-0 in favor of the visitors at 53:03.

UTEP reorganized after the strike, with a set play off the kick-off setting up Schultz. She unleashed a blast from outside the area that skipped in on Revel, who gobbled it up.

The Miners continued to pressure, and it would pay off in the 67th minute. Josan laced a cross to a wide-open Dorman, who controlled the ball. She then deftly placed a shot over the outstretched hands of Revel, slicing the deficit in half.

With a renewed passion, the Orange and Blue quickly went back on the attack. A nice pass found the foot of Kindzierski, who drilled the shot that looked as if it would tie the tilt. In an ill-fated outcome, though, it deflected off the crossbar and over play.

Hall had a try in the 72nd minute but it sailed high. The Miners' final good chance came courtesy of a corner kick in the 79th minute. Josan played a low, hard ball into the area but it was sent out of harms' way by the Bulldogs defense.

UTEP will return to action when it plays host to Utah Valley University at 1 p.m. on Sunday.