The UTEP soccer team suffered a heartbreaking 2-1 loss in double overtime to Colorado College in the quarterfinals of the Conference USA women’s soccer championship Wednesday afternoon.

The Miners (15-6) played splendidly throughout the match, controlling possession and peppering Tiger netminder Geneva Sills from the game’s first whistle with plenty of shots. Included among those was a blast by Tameka Sumter, which deflected off the post in the first overtime period.

“We played them close,” head coach Kevin Cross said. “It was a hard way to lose. We had a good season, and I appreciate what the seniors have done for the program.”

Colorado College nearly scored in the game’s first minute. Off the kick-off, the Tigers pushed the ball deep into the Miner end of the pitch. A clearing attempt by UTEP was blocked, leaving the ball bouncing precariously in the box. Emily Beans beat junior netminder Brittany Popoff to the ball, and she fired a low shot that seemed destined to twickle the twine.

Senior Susie Quezada had other intentions, however, as the defender used every bit of her 5’ 11 frame to knock the ball away from the goalmouth at the last possible second.

The Orange and Blue wiped out the ensuing corner kick, and then quickly forced action to the Tiger part of the field. A cross by Brandi Aston was deflected over the endline, resulting in a corner kick of their own. C-USA assist leader Anoop Josan lofted a ball into area, but Chelsea Winbush’s shot never reached Sills.

The Miners threatened again at the 28-minute mark, as Josan played a nice thru ball to Jami Tullius. UTEP’s all-time leading scorer fired, but the attempt was turned away by Sills.

A mere three minutes later, after an opportunity by the Tigers which was erased by a Popoff save, the Miners launched a counter attack that nearly resulted in the match’s first tally.

Brandi Aston raced up the right side of the field, with plenty of space to operate. Her cross blistered thru the area to an awaiting Josan, who had snuck in behind the defense at the far post. She ripped a shot that sailed past a helpless Sills, but it clanged off the crossbar and out of play.

The bit of misfortune would loom large at the 39-minute mark, when the Tigers found the match’s first tally. A volley into the box by Lisa Balsama took a tricky hop and bounced away from Popoff. The rebound was corralled by Jamie Maltman, who pushed the ball into the back of the net to put Colorado College up, 1-0.

UTEP threatened once more before the half expired, but it was unable to light up the scoreboard.

The Miners came out with plenty of intensity at the onset of the second stanza. UTEP established the pace of play, and it paid off in the form of a corner kick. The pass by Josan was headed away by a Tiger defender before a Miner could redirect it toward the net.

Sumter vied to equal the match at the 57-minute mark, with a deceptively low, hard shot that forced Sills to make a diving stop. On the ensuing corner kick, the Tiger netminder left her line to punch it out of danger.

Popoff was called a couple of minutes later, and she responded with her best save of the match. The Westbank, B.C. native snatched a hard shot by Amara Wilson out of the air to keep the Miners within striking distance.

The effort energized the Orange and Blue, who continued to apply plenty of pressure. The added intensity would prove to be too much for the Tigers to handle, as the Miners broke through for the game’s equalizer during the 61st minute.

A botched clearing attempt by Colorado College from just inside the box helped UTEP set up shop. Melissa Abraham controlled a bouncing ball, took a couple of dribbles to compose herself, and unleashed a blast that whistled past Sills and into the back of the net.

Although the match was all square, the momentum was clearly in the Miners’ corner. At the 67-minute mark, Winbush ensured that it stayed that way with a tremendous play. A brilliant pass sent a Tiger forward on what seemed a breakaway. Winbush used long strides to quickly close the gap, and right before Maltman could fire, she extended her leg to block the shot out of harms’ way.

The Miners responded to the threat by forcing the play back into the Tigers defensive zone. UTEP methodically strung together several fine passes, as it started to dominate possession.

In between, it continued to knock on the door with plenty of chances. On two separate occasions, Josan lifted promising passes into the box off of set pieces. Both times, however, a Tiger was in the area to deny the Orange and Blue.

Tullius nearly pushed the Miners into the lead with just two minutes to play in the period. After receiving a splendid pass from Sumter, the El Paso native made a quick turn. Suddenly with room to operate, Tullius nailed a shot that caught Sills off guard. She managed to make the save, and the rebound was sent away before a Miner could punch it in.

The chance was the final by either team before the half expiring, meaning the game would be decided in overtime.

Five minutes into the period, Sumter stole a pass at midfield. Using her blazing speed, she split a pair of defenders and set her sights toward the goal. Sills left her line to cut off the angle, but Sumter snuck the shot past her.

The ball trickled toward the back of the net, seemingly in slow motion, before it deflected off the goalpost and out of play.

Armed with new life, it was the Tigers’ who nearly ended the match. A couple of passes afforded Kelly LaVoie a great look at the goal. She rifled a shot, but Popoff was up to the task with a breathtaking diving save to her.

The clutch effort forced the match into a second overtime, and the Tigers would strike at the 104-minute mark to emerge with the triumph. Balsama crossed a ball into the area to a streaking Maltman, who one-timed it past Popoff.