Texas soccer is back in action, and after coming off a year as the Southeastern Conference champion, the expectations are sky high.
However, this year’s squad looks a lot different, and after a shaky 1-3-1 start to the season, it’s fair to say that the Longhorns need time to build chemistry.
Texas is returning 15 players from last season and adding 10 new faces, nine of them being freshmen. While that may not seem like the biggest overhaul, the truth lies in the stats.
The Longhorns return just 34.1% of their total minutes played last season and 27.5% of their goals from last season. That’s a lot of production needing to be replaced.
However, there are things to look forward to. Knowing she was losing tons of talent, head coach Ange Kelly set out to recruit a stacked 2025 class, ranking sixth in the country and first in the SEC, according to Top Drawer Soccer.
And this freshman class is not here to spectate — it’s here to compete.
Through the first four games this season, four true freshmen — Ava McDonald, Audrey Bryant, Sadie Hoch and Mateya Dessieux — have started every match, with McDonald, Bryant and Hoch each finding the scoresheet thus far.
“They’re really special,” Kelly said about her freshman class. “This program is in a great place in terms of what we have in the product.”
With a lot of new faces in the building, the team needed some new leadership to step up. Insert EmJ Cox. The fifth-year defender played a huge role on the team early in her stint in Austin, but major injuries during the last two seasons put a halt to her success.
However, she’s back this season and ready to take on a big role on and off the pitch.
“She’s the mom of the group,” Kelly said. “She’s hanging out with freshmen by choice on days off, so she’s a fantastic member of our squad.”
It’s also impossible to forget about the superstar that is sophomore Amalia Villarreal. Totaling nine goals and eight assists, Villarreal cemented herself as one of the best players in the country last season. With the Longhorns losing major star power in Lexi Missimo and Holly Ward, Texas is counting on another stellar season from Villarreal.
This squad has significant talent across the pitch, but as the results show, it needs time to gel. The road for the Longhorns doesn’t get any easier from here as SEC play nears, but Kelly remains confident in her squad’s ability as the season continues.
“What I do know about this squad is, whatever we put forth, they’re coachable,” Kelly said after a 3-2 loss to TCU. “They have a never-say-die attitude, and they’re learning every single moment.”
The rest of non-conference play may be a bumpy road for the Longhorns, but if they’re patient as they continue to grow as a unit, they can be a major force when conference play arrives.
