College Sports Return to the Borderland

UTEP athletics are back in action, with soccer, football, and volleyball kicking off the 2025 season. Here’s a recap of what’s been happening on campus this past week.

UTEP Soccer Splits First Two Games

UTEP soccer opened their 2025 campaign last week, hosting Abilene Christian and Texas Southern at University Field.

The Miners fell in their opener against Abilene Christian on Thursday. A goal from Amelia Leggett in the 16th minute gave the Wildcats the lead, and they held on for the win. Despite dominating statistically with more shots, shots on goal, and corner kicks, Gibbs Keeton’s squad struggled to capitalize offensively. A golden opportunity came in the 57th minute when forward Ana Quintero got past ACU goalkeeper Bella Medrano, but a Wildcat defender made a miraculous save inches from the goal line. The Miners couldn’t recover, falling 1-0, though freshman goalkeeper Savanah Finley impressed with four saves.

The team bounced back on Sunday against Texas Southern. The Tigers, coming off a SWAC championship appearance last year, fell behind in the 20th minute when Ana Quintero scored the first of her two goals. After a delay due to an injury, Eve Barry added a second goal in the 43rd minute, assisted by former Del Valle standout Yesenia Cisneros, giving UTEP the lead heading into halftime.

A weather delay extended the break, but the Miners kept the momentum. Quintero scored again in the 60th minute, and freshman Cisneros netted her first career goal in the 64th. UTEP cruised to a 4-0 victory, improving to 1-1 on the season.

“It’s great when you put the ball in the back of the net,” Keeton said after the win. “This team has been craving that, so I’m really proud of them.”

The Miners now head to California for a couple of non-conference matches. They face UC Riverside (2-13-1 last season) on Thursday, a team that beat UTEP last year, followed by a tougher matchup against Cal State Fullerton, who tied with Cal earlier this week. UTEP went 1-5-4 on the road last season.

“Everyone looks forward to Southern California when it’s hot,” Keeton said. “This is our first test, a two-game weekend on the road.”

Who Will Be UTEP Football’s Starting Quarterback?

In less than two weeks, UTEP football opens against Utah State in Logan. You can read more about the matchup here, but with the season approaching, one question looms: Who will start at quarterback?

Head coach Scotty Walden aims to name a starter sooner than last year, when Skyler Locklear was announced just days before the Nebraska game. At Monday’s press conference, Walden said the decision is nearing.

“We’re narrowing it down,” Walden said. “I anticipate having that (naming a starter) later this week.”

The competition has been intense since early spring, when former five-star recruit Malachi Nelson committed to UTEP. Nelson is vying for the role against incumbent Skyler Locklear and returnee's Cade McConnell and Shay Smith.

Locklear started last season until McConnell took over after a strong performance against Colorado State. Unfortunately, McConnell suffered a season-ending injury, allowing Locklear to reclaim the role and show signs of improvement.

Smith, who redshirted last year, bulked up over the offseason and remains a contender.

Despite progress in two fall camp scrimmages, Walden noted room for improvement.

“Mistakes were made on Saturday,” he said. “We need to connect better.”

Still, there’s optimism. Both Walden and Nelson highlighted explosive plays from all quarterbacks during scrimmages, suggesting the offense could surpass last season’s performance, where the Miners really struggled to get big yardage plays.

All four guys have compelling arguments to be the starter, but it seems Locklear and Nelson may have the strongest.

Locklear, with nine starts last year, threw for 1,583 yards, 10 touchdowns, and six interceptions. He started in all three of UTEP’s wins, including a career-high 327-yard performance in a double-overtime victory against Kennesaw State. His experience in Walden’s system, from their time at Austin Peay, gives him an edge.

Nelson, meanwhile, brings a unique story. A five-star recruit from Los Alamitos High School, he was ranked the nation’s top player by ESPN. He originally committed to Oklahoma to play under Lincoln Riley, but decommitted and followed Riley to USC. That's where he spent his freshman year, playing in only one game in a Trojan uniform.

Nelson hit the portal and landed at Boise State, but ultimately lost the starting job to Maddox Madsen.

And now he's here, in El Paso, as the highest rated recruit to ever land in the Sun City.

This may be Nelson's final FBS opportunity. Will he make the most of it? Or will it be Locklear? Time will tell.

UTEP Volleyball Opens Season in Four Days

Ben Wallis and the UTEP volleyball team head to Arizona for a scrimmage against Grand Canyon University on August 23.

Fans got a glimpse of the squad during Saturday’s Orange vs. Navy game at Memorial Gym. Read the full breakdown here. Returners looked sharp, but newcomers Fuka Sekita and Mackenzi Davis stood out. Sekita, a libero transfer from NMMI, appears poised to replace graduated Alyssa Sianez.

Davis is a freshman hitter from Melissa, Texas, who has been with the prorgam since the spring. She even competed with the beach volleyball squad during its 2025 campaign.

Notably, all-conference hitter Ema Uskokovic was absent from the scrimmage, watching from the bench without suiting up. The reason for her absence is unclear.

What’s Next?

UTEP soccer travels to California to face UC Riverside (8/21) and Cal State Fullerton (8/24). Volleyball takes on Grand Canyon in a scrimmage (8/23). Football and cross country open their seasons on August 30.