The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Ole Miss
Soccer preview: Ole Miss
10.25.2025 | Soccer
Longhorns host Rebels in season finale
OLE MISS VS. TEXAS
Date: Oct. 26, 2025
Where: Mike A. Myers Stadium
Time: 2 p.m.
TV: SEC Network+
Live stats: texas.statbroadcast.com
THE MATCHUP — The Longhorns wrap up their 2025 season, as Texas welcomes Ole Miss to Mike A. Myers Stadium. The Longhorns and Rebels have met just twice, splitting the pair of prior contests. Ole Miss won the first matchup, 1-0, in the first round of the 2003 NCAA Tournament. Meanwhile, Texas secured a 1-0 victory in the first tilt as SEC foes last season. Following the conclusion of Sunday's match, the Longhorns will host their annual Senior Day ceremony. Texas will honor Olivia Ahern, Toni Lopez, Kendall Sproat and Breana Thompson. The senior class has won 52 matches, guiding the Longhorns to three consecutive conference titles, including the first-ever SEC Championship in school history.
LAST TIME OUT — Texas dropped a 4-2 result at Oklahoma on Sunday afternoon at John Crain Field. The Longhorns led by a goal in each half, but the Sooners scored four times over the final 29 minutes to record their first comeback win of the season. Four different Sooners found the back of the net, with Alexis Washington delivering the game-winner in the 77th minute on her Senior Day. Meanwhile, Naomi Clark led the way with four points, notching a game-tying tally in the 62nd minute and dishing out assists on each of the final two strikes. In the defeat, Amalia Villarreal and Molly MacMillan both registered goals, as the Longhorns outshot Oklahoma, 13-9.
COMING OF AGE — Heading into the season finale, 21 of Texas' 23 goals have been recorded by underclassmen. Freshman Ava McDonald paces the club with eight goals and 19 points. Rookie Mateya Dessieux and redshirt freshman Kendell Williams have logged every second in net. Overall, 14 Longhorns have made their collegiate debuts this fall, with two true freshmen starting all 16 contests.
NEW FACES IN NEW PLACES — Texas has 10 newcomers on the 2025 roster, including 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).
YOUNG MCDONALD — Ava McDonald has made her presence felt across her first 16 collegiate matches. McDonald — who was the No. 10 overall recruit in the Class of 2025, according to Top Drawer Soccer — paces the team with eight goals and 19 points. As of Oct. 25, no freshman nationally has more goals, points, shots (61) and shots on goal (29) than McDonald. Within the SEC, the 5-foot-6 forward is second in shots and shots on goal, tied for sixth in goals and ninth in points, Across the last eight contests, she has mounted 13 points, highlighted by a pair of multi-goal efforts. McDonald become the first Longhorn freshman to have three 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.
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 ranks second on the club with seven goals and 16 points. Among all SEC players, Villarreal checks in third in shots (56), fourth in shots on goal (26) and tied for eighth in 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.
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 55 of the 59 contests. Thompson has totaled 4,895 minutes, logging at least 90 minutes on 32 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. This past week, she was named to the SEC Soccer Community Service Team.
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 155-90-35 (.616) record. Kelly has guided Texas to eight NCAA Tournament appearances and three conference titles.
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.
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 157-91-32 (.618) 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 43-13-9 (.731) 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 196-64-28 (.729) 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 five teams in the United Soccer Coaches Poll, highlighted by No. 9 TCU and No. 10 Vanderbilt. The Longhorns will play eight matches away from Austin and nine of their contests on the friendly grounds at Mike A. Myers Stadium.
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.
