EL PASO, Texas- Tameka Sumter scored twice in the first 20 minutes of the second stanza to erase a 3-1 halftime deficit, but Texas Tech would prevail 4-3 on the strength of Brittney Williams’ strike in the 75th minute at a sun soaked University Field Sunday afternoon.

Skye Schultz also scored for the Miners (2-1-0), who showed lots of heart in fighting back from 1-0 & 3-1 Red Raider (2-1-0) leads before ultimately coming up just short in the final match of the 12th-annual Miner Classic.

“We need to put together two halves of UTEP soccer,” head coach Kevin Cross said. “The fact that we came back was a positive. We will learn and get better from this.”

UTEP set an up-tempo style of play early on, and was rewarded with a corner kick less than two minutes into the match. Freshman Tess Hall lifted the ball into the area, but the Miners were unable to redirect it on net.

Action was contested in the central portion of the pitch the next several minutes, with tight marking from both squads making it tough going offensively.

Texas Tech was the first to break through, taking advantage of an unlucky clearing attempt by Sara Kaltwasser. The sophomore GK tried to send a loose ball out of harms’ way, but it went right to TTU forward Dawn Ward. With an empty net, Ward easily tapped the ball in to put her team up 1-0 in the 11th minute.

The Miners were not fazed by their first deficit of the season. Instead, they regrouped and came up the equalizer just three minutes and 49 seconds later. Off a set piece from 35 yards out, Melissa Desilets lobbed a ball into the area.

Schultz timed her jump perfectly, creating some space between the defender, and hammered the header home for her second goal of the year.

Energized by the strike, UTEP started to control possession better. The more organized approach afforded Sumter a great look from just inside the box, but the shot rocketed inches high. The Miners then earned a corner kick, but could not convert.

The close calls would prove to be costly, with Texas Tech regaining the lead in the 35th minute. A shot by Taylor Lytle ricocheted off the post, and in a bit of misfortune, came right to the foot of Ward. She laced it past a diving Chandra Morden-who replaced Kaltwasser in the 24th minute- to break the deadlock.

Before the Orange and Blue could catch their breath, the Red Raiders managed to extend their advantage to 3-1 with five minutes left in the period. A cross from Karen De Leon found the foot of Taylor Lytle, whose shot beat Morden.

Texas Tech would carry the 3-1 edge into the break, but the Miners did not rattle. Rather, they came out with a much higher level of intensity, and it would allow them to slice the deficit to one 38 seconds in.

Jo Radcliffe won a 50-50 ball on the right wing, and then immediately played a high-arching cross toward Sumter. The senior leapt and unleashed a header which blitzed into the goal.

The Miners continued to pressure following the strike, with Desilets, Schultz and Anoop Josan each registering shots in the next five minutes. The first two attempts were errant, while Josan’s blast forced Texas Tech GK Erin Wikelius to make a diving stop.

Sensing that the Red Raiders were on their heels, UTEP started to be even more aggressive with its play. Winbush stole a ball from a Texas Tech player, and then raced up the right wing. After drawing the defense in, she sent a low ball into the box which was one-timed home by Sumter to make it 3-3 in the 65th minute.

With the match all squared, play started to become much more physical, with neither team wanted to give up any clean looks.

Sumter somehow found some space to operate with at the 68th minute, but this time Wikelius was up to the task.

The next several minutes play was primarily in the central portion of the pitch, but the Red Raiders were able to earn a corner kick with 15 minutes left. Conner Williams lifted the ball into the box, where Harrison slipped between the defenders and headed home what would be the match winner.

UTEP will return to action for its initial road match on the year when it takes on Eastern Washington at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday.