The 2025 season has not been a pleasant start for the defending Southeastern Conference champions.

After suffering from a 3-2 loss in its season opener, Texas seemed to be building momentum in its next two games with a win against Long Beach and a draw against Arizona State. However, that momentum was quickly halted after its latest game.

​On Sunday, the Longhorns took their first-ever road loss against the Big 12’s Houston Cougars, losing 4-1. 

The game started just as the Longhorns would have liked, with a quick goal by sophomore forward Amalia Villarreal within the first 15 minutes of the game. After a slick through-ball past multiple Cougar defenders from senior midfielder Olivia Ahern, Villarreal finished with a low shot to the bottom left corner, putting the Longhorns up early with her second goal of the season.

With the rest of the first half mostly quiet on both attacking ends, the Longhorns went into halftime with a lead. However, once both teams returned to the pitch, the score would quickly change.

Within the first two minutes of the second half, the Cougars equalized the game. After Amanda Adams ran down the left side of the pitch, the sophomore forward crossed the ball back into the box, where senior midfielder Morgan Donohue connected on a first-time strike to even the score.

Soon after, the Longhorns surrendered a penalty kick to Houston after a handball in the box, flipping the score upside down within a few minutes.

Texas’ day would go from bad to worse after a long-range shot from sophomore forward Blake Hodgson ripped into the left side of the Longhorns’ net. Capping off a three-goal flurry, the goal allowed Houston to push its lead within 10 minutes of the second half.

A fourth unanswered goal from the Cougars put the game out of reach after another long-range effort was buried into the back of the net from 15 yards out by junior midfielder Kyrsten Kizer.

Texas breathed a little hope after Villarreal managed to score her second goal of the night late in the game. But after a video review, the play was overturned and the goal was disallowed. 

A goal would’ve allowed the Longhorns a sliver of hope down two goals, but with the score taken away, Texas was unable to overcome a three-goal deficit and mount a late-stage comeback.

Texas soccer will look to bounce back as the team returns to Mike A. Meyers Stadium to host TCU on Aug. 28 at 7 p.m. C.T.