The UTEP soccer staff begins its 2022 season with one of many true toss-up video games on the schedule when it hosts certainly one of Convention USA’s departing groups, North Texas, on Saturday evening in a Solar Bowl that needs to be offered out or near it.
That is Imply Inexperienced’s first journey to El Paso since 2018 and the final one on the schedule for the foreseeable future. The most important situation shall be how the Miners deal with the hype and strain of taking part in in entrance of 45,000 followers.
The sport in opposition to North Texas marks the earliest-ever opener for each faculties and was revealed on March 30 when Convention USA issued a revised schedule following the introduced departure of three faculties for the Solar Belt Convention.
Extra:‘Pleasure breeds pleasure’: UTEP kicks off soccer season in entrance of packed home at Solar Bowl
Reside UTEP soccer updates
UNT 14, UTEP 13 half Stats pretty even. UTEP 259-233 on yards, 13-13 on first downs. UNT working higher, Miners hitting lengthy ball in passing sport. Miners averaging 3.3 yards per rush. Left 17 factors on the sphere however gifted 6 factors on UNT blunders. Imply Inexperienced completed each drives, one thing UTEP has solely completed as soon as.
UNT 14, UTEP 13 half Weirdness. UNT calls a timeout to pressure a UTEP punt, takes over on its 12, tried a hanfoff with 32 seconds left and fumbles. Reward Amewhule outwrestles Imply Inexperienced QB Aune for the ball. Miners get three cracks from the 9, do not come shut. Area aim. Three extra factors than they’d have had if UNT had taken a knee.
UNT 14, UTEP 10 0:46 2nd: Smith cannot haul in what would have been a scrambling 54-yard landing go. Seven factors left on the sphere there. UTEP punts.
UNT 14, UTEP 10 1:52 2nd: UNT goes 75 yards in 9 performs with out going through a 3rd down. Miners protection buckled the final two drives. Might want to regulate on the half. Imply Inexperienced efficient with fast passes.
UTEP 10, UNT 7, 4:34: UNT completes a 21-yard go, however a focusing on name on Dennis Barnes is overturned. In order that’s excellent news.
UTEP 10, UNT 7, 5:14: Miners go 64 yards in 10 performs to the 12, accept a 30-yard FG. 45 of these yards got here on North Texas private fouls, together with two roughing-the-passers. UTEP will really feel like they left 4 factors on the board however they had been simply gifted three factors.
UTEP 7, UNT 7, 10:02: North Texas drives 88 yards in 12 performs, changing a third-and-10 and later a third-and-goal from the 7, each with fast slants. We’re tied.
UTEP 7, UNT 0, 13:58: Tyrin Smith flips the sphere with a 49-yard catch. After Miners acquire 9 yards on three performs, they go for it from the 32. A bomb to Smith, landing. Smith with 3 catches for 106 yards. This could possibly be 17-0.
UTEP 0, UNT 0, 0:03 1st: North Texas marches 54 yards however UTEP will get the cease as UNT crosses midfield. UTEP will really feel prefer it needs to be up 10-0, however they escaped the quarter going into the wind.
UTEP 0, UNT 0, 4:02 1st: A killer. UTEP marches 87 yards in 13 performs. The thirteenth is 4th and aim from the 1, Hardison cannot deal with a snap, will get on it however cannot full a go below not possible circumstances. Turnover on downs.
UTEP 0, UNT 0, 10:55 1st: North Texas will get a primary down however UTEP will get the cease. UNT misses a large open tight finish on 1st down and UTEP shuts the door after that. Miners honest catch on its 12-yard line.
UTEP 0, UNT 0, 12:46 1st: Miners transfer 51 yards in eight performs, with a spectacular 38-yard catch by Reynaldo Flores on a free play because the spotlight however Gavin Baechle misses a 42-yard subject aim right into a stiff wind. North Texas has a giant benefit with the wind this primary quarter.
0 minutes to kickoff: North Teas wins and defers the toss. UTEP and seventh-year senior Walter Daybreak to return the kickoff.
2 minutes to kickoff: Disjointed “begin.” Within the hurry to get this factor going, the band began taking part in the nationwide anthem when gamers had been nonetheless on the sphere warming up and the colour guard was standing on the sidelines. So the gamers scrambled off whereas the colour guard marched on through the first half of the world’s quickest anthem rendition.
9 minutes to kickoff: Nonetheless no phrase on if there are tickets accessible. UTEP stated its subsequent replace shall be when it introduced official attendance within the third quarter, although presumably they may submit on social media when the final ticket is offered.
22 minutes to kickoff: This was pretty apparent way back, however listed starters linebacker Breon Hayward and cornerback Torey Richardson should not suited up. Search for Jerome Wilson Jr. and Latrez Shelton to start out of their place.
34 minutes to kickoff: The rescheduled 7:57 p.m. kick is official. May change with yet another lightning strike, however gamers are already on the sphere warming up.
Stadium is open (7:14 p.m.): Progress! Individuals are actually taking their seats. Nonetheless no groups, however the scoreboard is again on. There shall be soccer tonight. Cheerleaders popping out.
Nonetheless lightning (6:53 p.m.): Huge strike close by. Reset the 30 minute clock. We are actually formally in a delay. Phrase is wafting round that there’s an 8 p.m. begin, however that’s not official, and albeit, appears optimistic. However if you wish to see a bunch of gamers who can play on Sunday, come on out. It might be this Sunday, however hey.
Nonetheless lightning (6:39 p.m.): Wait, there may be an replace. Concourse is now overflow and the stadium is re-closing.
Nonetheless lightning (6:36 p.m.): We’re formally delayed. Stadium is open, folks can hand around in the concourse with a bunch of different folks. In the mean time there isn’t any phrase on when there shall be phrase, depending on the lightning stopping.
Nonetheless some time till kickoff (6:08 p.m.): No new official updates, however a lightning strike simply went off. That would appear to imply 6:39 p.m. till warmups, which suggests this sport is not beginning on time. Stadium is formally closed due to the lightning.
Some time till kickoff: A lighting strike someplace inside 5 miles of the stadium has delayed warmups till 6:20 p.m. Recreation isn’t formally delayed however we’ll see. Coaches might determine collectively extra time is required for warmups. There’s virtually nobody within the stadium proper now.
2 hours, half-hour till kickoff: About 500 tickets left as UTEP chases its first sellout of the new-look Solar Bowl. The Miners like late kickoffs, they’re one of many few applications that opts for 7 p.m. begins on dwelling video games. The reason being easy. They polled their season-ticket holders and that is what they stated they wished. UTEP can also be one of many solely applications within the nation that has Saturday evening dwelling basketball video games when TV would not dictate it.
3 hours, half-hour till kickoff: Fairly some time earlier than the groups take the sphere for warmups, however once they do what to look at for is that if Breon Hayward (No 17) is on the sphere. The all-conference linebacker, who was listed as a senior final 12 months, is formally on the highest of the depth chart for this sport for the Miners, however it might appear unlikely that he shall be suited up. UTEP has appealed for an additional 12 months of eligibility for him (it issues how the 2019 season is counted, when he was at Marshall however did not play) however hasn’t gotten ultimate phrase from the NCAA. Concealing Hayward’s standing is why UTEP took the uncommon step of closing follow for the final 10 days.