Texas soccer senior forward Trinity Byars and senior center back EmJ Cox are both declared out with season-ending knee injuries, the team announced Sunday. 

“While this is not the news we hoped for with (Cox) and (Byars), we have the best facilities and medical professionals here at Texas, so I know they are in great hands,” said head coach Angela Kelly in a statement from the Texas Athletic Department. 

Byars, the Longhorns’ all-time leader in goals (52), game-winning goals (17) and hat tricks (five), injured her knee against Central Michigan on Sept. 1. Cox, the 2022 Big 12 Conference Defensive Player of the Year, suffered hers in the second game of the season against Cal State Bakersfield on Aug. 18. 

Texas didn’t appear vulnerable through its non-conference portion of the schedule, going 7-0-1, with the lone tie coming against a ranked Iowa squad. The Longhorns may miss the duo in the back half of their inaugural season in the Southeastern Conference, currently sitting 2-2-1 with five games remaining in the regular season. 

Despite not being factors on the field, Kelly believes Byars and Cox will still find ways to have a positive effect on the team. 

“(Cox) and (Byars) are huge fabrics of this program,” Kelly said. “I know they will help their teammates continue to fulfill their potential on and off the pitch.”

Texas’ remaining games include three at home and two on the road and a showdown against the current No. 6 Arkansas Razorbacks. The Longhorns have two games before then, with the next matchup coming against Oklahoma at 8 p.m. on Thursday at Mike A. Myers Stadium.