The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Texas A&M
Soccer preview: Texas A&M (Cotton Holdings Lone Star Showdown)
10.01.2025 | Soccer
Two rivals square off in a conference match in College Station for the first time since 2009
TEXAS VS. TEXAS A&M
Date: Oct. 2, 2025
Where: Ellis Field
Time: 7 p.m.
TV: SEC Network
Live stats: texas.statbroadcast.com
THE MATCHUP — For the first time since 2009, Texas and Texas A&M will square off in a conference match in College Station. Located 104 miles apart, the two rivals have gone head-to-head 30 times, dating back to the Longhorns' inaugural campaign in 1993. Texas A&M leads the all-time series, 21-7-2, but Texas has won each of the last two meetings. In their first-ever matchup as SEC foes a year ago, the Longhorns took down the Aggies, 2-0, at Mike A. Myers Stadium.
COTTON HOLDINGS LONE STAR SHOWDOWN — Cotton Holdings is the title sponsor of all contests between Texas and Texas A&M in every head-to-head sport between the two schools in both Austin and College Station. In addition, Cotton Holdings is the title sponsor for the year-long scoring system comprised of the results of up to 19 sports to determine which university wins the annual Lone Star Showdown rivalry series trophy. In those sports in which there is no head-to-head competition, rivalry series points will be awarded based on which team finishes higher in the final standings of the respective NCAA Championships. In the showdown's history, Texas has claimed the trophy seven times in nine opportunities, including four consecutive competition years.
LAST TIME OUT — Amalia Villarreal converted a penalty kick with 10 seconds remaining to lift the Longhorns to a 2-1 victory over No. 13 Vanderbilt on Friday at Mike A. Myers Stadium. Villarreal's second tally of the night marked the latest regulation goal to win a match in program history, besting the previous record with 17 ticks left scored by Abby Allen at Long Beach State on Aug. 17, 2023. Texas was awarded the penalty kick upon review, after a Commodore raised their foot and nicked Sadie Hoch's eye a couple yards in front of the net. Villarreal stepped to the spot to bury her third penalty of the season, securing Texas' first top-15 victory in the regular season since the Longhorns upset No. 5 West Virginia in 2017.
COMING OF AGE — Through 11 matches, 15 of Texas' 17 goals have been recorded by an underclassmen. Freshman Ava McDonald and Amalia Villarreal pace the club with six goals apiece, with Villarreal totaling a team-leading 14 points. Freshman Mateya Dessieux and redshirt freshman Kendell Williams have logged every second in net. Overall, 14 Longhorns have made their collegiate debuts this fall, with three true freshman starting all 11 contests.
NEW FACES IN NEW PLACES — Texas has 10 newcomers on the 2025 roster, with nine freshmen and one transfer. The Longhorns' recruiting class was ranked sixth nationally and earned the top spot in the SEC, according to Top Drawer Soccer. Texas' star-studded recruiting class is headlined by five players in the top 100: Ava McDonald (No. 10), Cameron Byrd (No. 38), Mateya Dessieux (No. 47), Audrey Bryant (No. 52) and Annie Gnidula (No. 93).
A LOOK AT THE LONGHORNS — Last season, Texas finished with a 17-4-2 mark and qualified for its 18th NCAA Tournament appearance in program history. The Longhorns won the SEC Tournament title in their inaugural campaign in the league. Texas brings back 15 players from a year ago, comprising 34.1 percent of the minutes played in 2024. After a historic season, the Longhorns return just 27.5 percent of their goals, losing six of their top seven scorers.
THE VILLARREAL DEAL — The 2024 SEC Freshman of the Year, Amalia Villarreal emerged as one of the best young players nationally. Villarreal became the eighth different Longhorn to earn Newcomer/Freshman of the Year honors, including the fifth in the eight seasons. In SEC action, the Lansing, Mich., native paced all freshmen with 14 points, totaling five goals and four assists. Overall, Villarreal was one of just four SEC players to mount at least nine tallies and eight assists, joining Texas' Lexi Missimo, Arkansas' Ava Tankersley and South Carolina's Catherine Barry. This year, the sophomore leads the team with 14 points, including a co-team-best six goals. Against then-No. 13 Vanderbilt, Villarreal notched her first career brace to garner SEC Offensive Player of the Week honors on Sept. 29. The midfielder/forward scored the latest regulation goal to win a match in program history, slotting a penalty kick with 10 seconds left. Meanwhile, Villarreal's first tally of the contest earned the No. 7 spot on SportsCenter's Top 10 plays.
YOUNG MCDONALD — Ava McDonald has made her presence felt across her first 11 collegiate matches. McDonald — who was the No. 10 overall recruit in the Class of 2025, according to Top Drawer Soccer — is tied for the club lead with six goals and ranks second with 13 points. Over the last six contests, the 5-foot-6 forward has scored five times, highlighted by a brace against College of Charleston on Aug. 31 and at Alabama on Sept. 21. McDonald become the first Longhorn freshman to have multiple braces since Trinity Byars in 2021. A star on the club scene, the Allen, Texas, native earned a pair of ECNL All-Conference honors, while guiding FC Dallas to the 2022-23 ECNL League title. In her young career, McDonald has participated in USYNT camp at the U16, U17 and U19 stages.
SHE'S BAAAAAAACK — A staple for the Longhorns on the backline since stepping foot on The Forty Acres, EmJ Cox is in her fifth year in burnt orange. Over the 2023 and 2024 seasons, Cox logged just 150 minutes in two matches, due to a pair of knee injuries. The 2022 Big 12 Defender of the Year started all 44 matches across her first two campaigns, registering nine goals and four assists. During her first two years with the Longhorns, Cox played all but 87 minutes, recording more than 4,000 minutes. The 5-foot-10 defender garnered All-Conference recognition in both seasons. With Cox on the pitch, the Longhorns have notched 20 clean sheets.
QUEEN BRE — Senior defender Breana Thompson has made an impact on and off the field during her time at Texas. Amid back-to-back conference titles, Thompson has been an integral part of the Longhorns' success, earning starts in 50 of the 54 contests. Thompson has totaled 4,554 minutes, logging at least 90 minutes on 31 occasions. Last season, the Mesquite, Texas, native earned SEC All-Tournament, playing every second of the Longhorns' conference championship run. Ahead of the 2025 season, Thompson was nominated for the inaugural Allstate and NACDA Good Works Team (Fall) for her contributions to homeless rehabilitation and advocacy.
KICKIN' IT WITH KELLY — A 26-year head coaching veteran, Ange Kelly is in her 14th season at the helm of Texas soccer. Since her arrival on The Forty Acres, the Longhorns have posted a 155-85-35 (.627) record. Kelly has guided Texas to eight NCAA Tournament appearances and three conference titles.
WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS — In its inaugural campaign in the league last year, Texas finished 6-3-1 before sweeping its way to an SEC Tournament title. During the regular season, the Longhorns' 19 points checked in third in the conference table, trailing only Mississippi State (30) and Arkansas (25). With its championship run in Pensacola, Texas won back-to-back postseason conference tournaments for the second time in program history, accomplishing the feat for the first time since a pair of Big 12 crowns in 2006 and 2007.
CONFERENCE CALL — Since the program's inception in the 90s, the Longhorns have played in three different conferences: Southwest Conference (1995), Big 12 (1996-2023) and Southeastern Conference (2024-Present). Across the three leagues, Texas has posted a 157-89-32 (.622) mark. The Longhorns have claimed six conference championships. Texas won the 2001 and 2022 Big 12 regular season, while capturing Big 12 Tournament titles in 2006, 2007 and 2023 before an SEC Tournament crown in 2024.
HOME SWEET HOME — Texas owns a 43-11-9 (.754) record at Mike A. Myers Stadium since the start of the 2020 season. Last year, the Longhorns went 10-1-2 in Austin, outscoring their opposition, 31-12, in those matches. Texas has managed to win double-digit contests at home in three consecutive years. Overall, the Longhorns have posted a 196-61-28 (.737) ledger at Mike A. Myers Stadium.
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE — With their highly-anticipated move to the SEC a year ago, the Longhorns will once again play one of the toughest schedules in the country. Texas is slated to face six teams in the United Soccer Coaches Poll, highlighted by No. 7 TCU, No. 10 South Carolina and No. 13 Mississippi State. The Longhorns will play eight matches away from Austin and nine of their contests on the friendly grounds at Mike A. Myers Stadium.
THE EYES OF TEXAS ARE UPON YOU — Texas entered the 2025 campaign ranked in both preseason polls. The Longhorns were listed 19th in the United Soccer Coaches top 25, while slotting in at No. 20 in the Top Drawer Soccer rankings. Texas was picked second in the SEC Preseason Coaches' Poll, checking in only behind Arkansas.
PRESEASON PRAISE — Ten Longhorns received preseason recognition from the SEC. Olivia Ahern, Arianna Brothers, Audrey Bryant, EmJ Cox, Sadie Hoch, Rosa Maalouf, Ava McDonald, Chloe Shimkin, Breana Thompson and Amalia all earned spots on the league's preseason watch list. Meanwhile, Villarreal was also identified as a forward to watch by the United Soccer Coaches and ranked as the 53rd-best overall player nationally by Top Drawer Soccer.
WHAT STARTS HERE CHANGES THE WORLD — Since arriving on The Forty Acres, head coach Ange Kelly has turned Texas into a pipeline to the pros. Over the last decade, 22 Longhorns have signed professionally. Following the 2024 campaign, Texas had 10 players agree to pro contracts, highlighted by Trinity Byars (San Diego Wave) and Lexi Missimo (Dallas Trinity). Byars became the first NCAA student-athlete to join the NWSL after the transition away from a traditional draft process, while Missimo inked the largest contract out of college in the league's history. Alongside the record-breaking duo, Ashlyn Miller (Brisbane Roar), Jilly Shimkin (Tampa Bay Sun FC), Hannah Waesch (Athlone Town AFC), Holly Ward (Vancouver Rise FC), Madison Haugen (Sporting CP), Lauren Lapomarda (Dallas Trinity) Amelia Abbott (Wellington Phoenix) and Mia Justus (Utah Royals) all signed to play professionally.
