Pivotal to Texas soccer this season has been a senior midfielder with consistent game time from the start. Now in her fourth year with the program, Ashlyn Miller has matured into a leader the team needs both on and off the pitch.

Miller is no stranger to playing various games throughout the season. Starting from her freshman year, she has played at least 20 games each season, starting 23 of the possible 24 contests last year. Miller has started in each of the last 15 games Texas has played this season so far. 

This uptick in her role for the Longhorns has allowed Miller to grow and expand her skillset.

“As you just get older, you kind of just mature a little bit and with becoming a leader on this team, you kind of just grow into that leadership role and that position,” Miller said. “It’s more than just playing on the field with my teammates, it’s helping them on and off the field.”

This season, the Longhorns have had to play without their star striker, senior Trinity Byars, who went down with a season-ending injury just five games into the season. Veteran players like Miller have been able to help steer the ship for Texas by placing further expectations on themselves to step up when needed.

“But without (Byars), you kind of just have to realize that, you can do it as well,” Miller said. “It’s kind of like putting on the backpack for our team and being like, ‘Hey, this is our job’ … just being a leader in that role.”

Miller and the Texas Longhorns have not missed a beat when it comes to goal-scoring in Byars’ absence, scoring at least once in nine of their last ten games since losing Byars. Miller has scored three goals and has three assists so far this year. 

“You kind of just have to pick up where the pieces are, and you put it back together by just getting there for one another and scoring,” Miller said. “So it doesn’t just have to be one person.”

As an upperclassman, Miller does not shy away from her leadership role. Miller said she focuses on helping her teammates emotionally so that those emotions transpire into their play.

“What I try to do is I try to give people confidence,” Miller said. “Everyone plays better with confidence. I play better when I’m encouraged. So I try to do that (for) everyone.”