After losing to unranked LSU earlier in late August, Texas soccer won its next four matches, scoring 24 goals and conceding zero. They ended the preseason with a 0-0 tie against then-No. 23 Gonzaga and a 6-1-1 record.
Here are some of the top teams in the Big 12 as conference play begins.
No. 1 BYU Cougars (7-0)
The Cougars boast a 7-0 record, scoring 28 goals and only allowing seven from their opponents. After finishing second in the West Coast Conference last year, BYU had an undefeated preseason in which they beat then-No.1 UCLA, 3-1.
BYU’s success is reflected by the experience the team possesses with seven starting seniors. Senior midfielder Olivia Wade-Katoa and sophomore forward Erin Bailey led the attack with five goals each. Junior goalkeeper Savanna Mason’s defense keeps other teams from success by only giving up seven goals. Senior defender Kendell Petersen is currently leading the team with seven assists.
No. 16 Texas Longhorns (6-1-1)
The last two seasons, Texas has been undefeated in the Big 12, claiming its first regular season title since 2001 last year. However, its struggles lay in the Big 12 tournament, losing in the 2021 finals and 2022 semifinals. They have not won the tournament since their back-to-back success in 2006 and 2007.
Texas is looking to complete the puzzle with three freshmen: midfielder Arianna Brothers, defender Carly Montgomery and forward Avery Clark. Featured in all eight games, they have contributed to five goals, three assists and six shutouts, collectively. They join junior duo midfielder Lexi Missimo and forward Trinity Byars. Missimo has 10 goals and 15 assists and Byars has 10 goals and seven assists. Junior goalkeeper Mia Justus has shown her strong defensive skills, starting all eight games and only conceding six goals.
Texas Tech Red Raiders (6-0-2)
Texas Tech enters conference play looking to forget last year’s heartbreak in the Big 12 tournament — losing to Oklahoma in the last nine seconds of the quarterfinals. Despite last year’s failures, an undefeated preseason sets the Red Raiders as one of this year’s challengers.
Graduate goalkeeper Madison White has only conceded four goals. White’s leadership on the road will be a determining factor for the team after their two ties both occurred during away games against New Mexico and Arizona.
Houston Cougars (6-1-1)
Another newcomer to the Big 12, Houston comes from the American Athletic Conference. After a woeful 2022 where it finished 2-4-2 in conference play, Houston has turned things around with the impact of transfer students.
The sophomore transfer duo of goalkeeper Olivia Dietrich and forward Cameryn Maddox are contributing on opposite sides of the ball. Dietrich, a Texas Tech transfer, has started six games in which she has only conceded six goals. Maddox, a San Diego transfer, leads the attack with seven goals and one assist. Junior midfielder and Mississippi State transfer Juliet Moore currently leads the team in assists. The recruitment of these players could be the determining factor in how Houston does in its first Big 12 season.
Oklahoma State Cowgirls (7-2)
The Cowgirls ended the season in fifth and exited the tournament in the quarterfinal.
Junior forward Hannah Chance may be a key factor this season. The forward appeared three times as a freshman but was sidelined as a sophomore due to injury. This season, Chance already has scored seven goals in eight games. If Oklahoma State is to find itself tying midway through a game, then it is going to be looking at Chance to provide.
