Tech Miners Take On Big Texas Teams

By Nicky Romero 

The New Mexico Tech Miners Men's Soccer Team traveled to play two games in El Paso, Texas, on October 2nd and 3rd.  The Miners lost the first game 2-1 to the conference leader UTEP Miners on Saturday.  They were also defeated 3-2 on Sunday by the NMSU Aggies.
The Tech Miners (2-5) are presently in fourth place in their conference.  Teams in their conference include UTEP, Arizona State, Arizona, Northern Arizona, and New Mexico State.
Due to injuries, Tech was without three starters against number one UTEP (6-0-1), .  But   the remaining players were still competing and hoping for a major upset. 
Second year Coach Brad Winton said,  “Three starters were out, but the guys played really well.  They fought hard and went 0-0 going into halftime.”
Fifteen minutes into the second half, UTEP transitioned against Tech and got a goal off of a header.
Ten minutes later, UTEP had a shot from outside the 18-yard line for a goal and a 2-0 lead.
With ten minutes left in the game, Coach-Player Winton scored Tech's lone goal from a bad pass from UTEP and the final score of the game.  This was Winton's first game this season.  He was forced to play for lack of players due to injuries.
“The guys played really well,” said Winton.  “That was probably our best team effort this season and the best game that we've played as a team.  Maybe because of the injuries we've had, the other guys knew they had to step up.”
On Sunday, Tech lost to the NMSU Aggies(3-3).  The game is being investigated for field and referee allegations against the Aggies.  There is a good possibility the game may be replayed sometime soon.
Tech took the first lead with Calvin Santisteven scoring the goal in the first forty-five seconds of the game.  The Aggies rebounded with two goals in the last twenty minutes of the first half.  The Aggies went in with a 2-1 lead at halftime.
Tech had numerous opportunities in the second half.  One of them a Santisteven shot hitting the post of the goal.  Finally, with twenty minutes left, Santisteven scored his second goal for the tie. 
The Aggies scored the winning goal with eight minutes left that sealed the victory. 
On Saturday, October 9th, the Miners travel to Flagstaff, Arizona, to play Northern Arizona at 7 pm.  Their next home games will be on October 16th at 3 pm against the University of Arizona, and on Sunday, October 17th at 1pm, they will host Arizona State.

Tech Miners Take On Big Texas Teams