UTEP head soccer coach Kevin Cross announced Tuesday the 2004 schedule, which will feature some challenging teams from the region, as well as the ever-competitive Western Athletic Conference slate.

"We tried to get a bunch of teams in our region," said Cross. "It is a real challenging lineup and we're excited about it. We hope to continue to build on our success over the past two seasons."

After exhibitions matches with Cochise College (Aug. 18) and West Texas A&M (Aug. 21), the Miners will open the regular season hosting the Miner Classic from Aug. 27-29. UTEP's first opponent will be Texas State on Aug. 27, followed by Sam Houston State on Aug. 29.

The Miners will play their next four games on the road at tournaments in Monroe, La., from Sept. 3-5 and in Riverside, Calif., from Sept. 10-12.

UTEP returns to University Field for the Border Shootout, hosting Big 12 foe Texas Tech (Sept. 16) and Weber State (Sept. 17).

Cross' squad will have one final tune-up before WAC play begins at Utah Valley State on Sept. 24.

UTEP opens the conference season on Oct. 1 at Fresno State.

"There is not an easy game in the conference," said Cross. "We have to come ready to play against everyone in this league."

The Miners will host the WAC's top two teams from 2003. Hawaii (13-5-2 in 2003) comes to town on Oct. 10. Defending WAC champion and NCAA first round participant SMU (17-3-2 in 2003) visits University Field on Oct. 22.

The WAC Championships will be held in Honolulu, Hawaii, from Nov. 4-6.

The Miners finished 11-8-0 in 2003. The season marked the first time in program history which they had won 10 games in back-to-back seasons.