The start of the 2025 season has not boded well for Texas soccer, currently sitting at a 2-4-1 record through its first seven games of the season and ranking at the bottom of the Southeastern Conference standings.
Now, Texas will have to shift its sights after finishing its non-conference schedule. The Longhorns will need to find a rhythm quickly, as they will be facing four out of the five teams currently ranked in the top five of the SEC standings.
Here is some insight into four of the top conference matchups that the Longhorns will have to battle through for the remainder of the season:
Mississippi State, Sept. 18
The Longhorns will welcome the Mississippi State Bulldogs for their second conference game of the season and their home conference opener. The Bulldogs have cruised their way through their non-conference schedule with a 5-1 record.
The attack for Mississippi State has been by committee, with three players scoring two goals and seven players with one goal currently on the roster. Senior midfielder Ally Perry leads the Bulldogs with four assists, while nine other players have tallied at least one assist.
Vanderbilt, Sept. 26
Texas soccer will take on the Vanderbilt Commodores for the first time as conference foes when the Longhorns host them in late September. Currently, the Commodores should be the Longhorns’ second-toughest matchup, as they stand in third place in the SEC standings.
One of Vanderbilt’s strengths is its defense, which will be one to note. The Commodores have only conceded two goals through seven games with five clean sheets, granting them a 6-1 record to start the season.
South Carolina, Oct. 9
Texas and the South Carolina Gamecocks have quickly built history between the two programs, as the early October matchup will be a rematch of the SEC Championship game from last season, where the Longhorns came out on top.
The Gamecocks’ 6-1-1 start to the season has been marked by their stellar defense all throughout the SEC, only conceding two goals through eight games, while recording six clean sheets. Freshman Mackenzie Johnson has been an impact player from the jump, with her four goals leading the team.
Oklahoma, Oct. 19
On top of the added intensity of the Red River Rivalry, the Oklahoma Sooners currently stand as the best team in the SEC, with an undefeated start to the season and sitting at the top of the conference standings with a record of 7-0-1.
Oklahoma has quickly become one of the top goal-scoring teams in the country, tied for fourth in the nation in goals scored. Throughout their contests, the Sooners hold a major advantage in goal scoring differential at 26 goals, conceding five goals through eight games.
The Sooners’ scoring attack is led by junior forward Naomi Clark, who is the team’s leading goal scorer with seven to her name, paired with three assists. Sophomore forward Kayla Keefer has been the leading playmaker, with five assists, while two other players come in second with four assists each.
