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UA confident as they take on UTEP

Ian C. Mayer Arizona Daily Wildcat Sophomore midfielder Twila Kaufman (middle) tests her dribbling skills to take the ball past two Baylor defenders in the Wildcats' 4-1 loss last Friday night. The Wildcats will have to use their offensive skills to pass by UTEP tonight on the road.

As the UA women's soccer team travels to play the University of Texas, El-Paso tonight, one thing is abundantly clear: winning is the only option.

"I don't know anything about UTEP but I expect us to win," junior defender Ann Giallonardo said. "I don't look too much into who they are or what they have accomplished, because going into every single game, I want to win."

This sentiment pervades throughout the team as the pressure to win mounts after back-to-back losses against No. 11 Brigham Young and No. 14 Baylor.

"There is a lot of pressure on us to win," sophomore midfielder Twila Kaufman said. "I just think the that we are getting the momentum going into this weekend."

The Wildcats (3-3-0 overall, 0-1-0 Pacific 10 Conference) are looking to the forwards to keep producing goals.

Junior forward Chrissy Sanford leads the UA with six goals and one assist (13 points), while sophomore forward Kim McGehee has been hot as of late, scoring three goals in the Wildcats' last three games.

Junior goalie Inger Airheart needs only 26 more minutes of playing time to become the program's all-time leader in minutes played.

UTEP (4-2-1 overall) will counter the Wildcats with a balanced scoring attack as seven players have scored at least one goal for the Miners this year.

Sophomore forward Kim Rogers leads UTEP in scoring with three goals and three assists (nine points).

Protecting the net for the Miners will be senior goalkeeper Amanda Smith, who has three shutouts and a stellar 0.95 goals against average in seven matches this year.

"UTEP, they are a very good team, they have had some good results lately, they are very fast and very direct," UA assistant coach Andre Luciano said. "We have to play 90 minutes versus 20- to 30-minute spurts each half. We are not going to take them lightly."

The Wildcats are looking to translate their confidence into a victory and then prepare for a Saturday match against Arkansas-Little Rock, in El-Paso.

"We definitely will win," sophomore midfielder Marisa Padula said, furthermore emphasizing the team's confidence as they head into the contest with the Miners.