EL PASO, TEXAS – For the first time since 1962 the Battle of I-10 between the Aggies and Miners meant even more than usual, with points and potential positioning for the CUSA tournament on the line. In a contest featuring an over-capacity crowd at University Field and a tense and emotional 90 minutes, NM State (5-5-1, 2-0 CUSA) came away with a 2-0 win over UTEP (1-9-1, 0-2 CUSA).
 
Megan Ormson recorded her first goal of the season in the third minute of the game, Tati Jerman added an insurance goal in the 72^nd minute, and Valerie Guha completed her first clean sheet of the season.
 
In an intense, physical and emotional game six yellow cards were given out on the night, with four drawn by the Crimson & White. Overall, NM State outpaced the Miners in shots (7-3), shots on goal (3-2), saves (2-1) and corner kicks (6-2).
 
FIRST HALF

Earning a corner kick just minutes into the contest, El Paso native and recent record-breaker Bianca Chacon lined up on the right side of the field, launching the ball into the box. With perfect placement, Megan Ormson was able to put the ball into the back of the net past UTEP goalie Tionna Taylor. This is the first goal for Ormson since an October 2022 win over Abilene Christian.
 
Following the score by NM State both squads clamped down on defense, with shots coming at a premium in half one. After the Miners recorded their first shot of the night in the fourth minute, the next shot for either team would come in the 23^rd, when Nicole Morales lined up to take a shot against Aggie goalkeeper Valerie Guha.
 
Firing a shot from just outside the goalbox, Guha made an astounding leaping dive to her right, putting two hands on the ball to knock it out wide for a Miner corner and fire up the NM State fans in attendance. After the incredible save by Guha, the teams combined for three shots the rest of the half, all off-target.
 
SECOND HALF
 
Rejuvenating over the break the Aggies would refuse to let up on both ends of the field, using a combination of an aggressive defense from the NM State backline and their trio of forwards on the night, including CUSA Preseason Player of the Year Loma McNeese. The senior from Sherwood got a great opportunity in the 52^nd minute, with a ball by Ormson that let her go one one-on-one with the UTEP goalie. Attempting a tackle to jar the ball loose, McNeese was handed a yellow card, the first of four on the night for NM State.
 
Just over two minutes later, the Aggie sideline was given a yellow card for dissent. Bianca Chacon was presented with the teams third yellow card of the night in the 60^th minute – in total, the Aggies were awarded three yellow cards in exactly eight minutes.
 
Unable to take advantage of the situation, the game would remain a 1-0 affair until the 72^nd minute when a pass by Meredith Scott found Tati Jerman on the right side of the field. Feinting left, Jerman pulled to her right, digging into the heart of the Miner backline before firing a shot that would connect on the far left side of the goal. This marks Jerman's first goal since connecting on the game-winning goal in the 2022 WAC Championship against Utah Valley.  
 
NUMBERS OF NOTE

• 0 – Valerie Guha recorded her first career shutout in the NM State win, totaling a pair of saves in the process. This is NM State's third shutout on the year, with fellow freshman keeper Karolanne Lafortune posting clean sheets against Cal State Fullerton and Incarnate Word.
• 1 – Megan Ormson and Tati Jerman record their first goals of the season, becoming the ninth and tenth different Aggie to tally a score on the yaer.
• 5 – With her assist on a corner kick in the third minute of Thursday's match, Bianca Chacon tallied her fifth assist of the season, while extending her lead in career assists (14, breaking the program record in Last Sunday's 4-3 win over LA Tech.

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