Cox’s second-half goal earns Soccer a 1-1 tie against Arizona State

Thursday, August 21

Austin, Texas

7 p.m. CT

University of Texas

1-1-1, 0-0-0

Arizona State

1-0-1, 0-0-0

Arizona St.

Texas

Cox’s second-half goal earns Soccer a 1-1 tie against Arizona State

08.21.2025 | Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Fifth-year defender scores for first time since Oct. 30, 2022

AUSTIN, Texas — After missing nearly two full seasons due to injury, EmJ Cox announced her return in emphatic fashion by delivering a 59th-minute equalizer to earn the Texas Longhorns a 1-1 draw against Arizona State on Thursday evening.

"It's the most excited I've ever been to score," Cox said after notching her 10^th career tally. "The journey's been great, but it's also been really hard. It was such a fun moment because I felt like it unlocked 2022 EmJ."

Cox — who logged just 150 minutes in two matches a year ago — headed home a picture-perfect cross from Amalia Villarreal to find the back of the net for the first time since Oct. 30, 2022.

"EmJ is such a special player to this program," head coach Ange Kelly said. "I'm so happy for her. If you had to say, 'Coach, you're only going to score one goal tonight.' I would give it to EmJ Cox every time."

The 2022 Big Defender of the Year leveled the contest for the Longhorns (1-1-1) after the Sun Devils (1-0-1) struck in the opening minute.

Less than 45 seconds into the match, Cameron Valladares sprinted free down the right side and ripped a shot toward the net. Valladares' rocket was deflected and caromed off the post before crossing the goal line to put the visitors on the board.

Despite the early tally, Texas flipped the script coming out of the intermission.

After the break, the Longhorns outshot the Sun Devils, 14-8, putting six attempts on target.

Texas nearly jumped ahead on a breakaway opportunity in the 66th minute, but Arizona State goalkeeper Pauline Nelles denied the Longhorns from their comeback bid.

"I loved the fight," Kelly said. "They worked their tails off. "I felt that we were a different team in the second half, and we created a lot of real quality chances. We just need to continue to grind and get better and better."

Up next, Texas hits the road to take on in-state foe Houston on Sunday. Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m. at Carl Lewis International Complex.