The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Soccer preview: at Pitt
08.15.2026 | Soccer
Longhorns travel for first time in Margueritte Bates era on Sunday
TEXAS VS. PITT
Date: Aug. 16, 2026
Where: Ambrose Urbanic Stadium
Time: 11 a.m. CT / 12 p.m. ET
TV: ACC Network Extra
Live stats: texas.statbroadcast.com
THE MATCHUP — Coming off a 3-0 victory to kick off the Margueritte Bates era, the Texas Longhorns hit the road to visit the Pitt Panthers for the first time in program history. The two sides have faced off just once in a record-setting performance in Austin. The Longhorns pummeled Pitt, 12-0, establishing program records for most points (36), goals (12), assists (12) and largest margin of victory on Sept. 1, 1996. All four marks still stand nearly 30 years later. During that contest, Carol Finch scored a co-program-best four goals.
HOUNDING THE HUSKIES — In its opener under first-year head coach Margueritte Bates, Texas hammered HCU, 3-0. The Longhorns started its new era in style, as two-time All-SEC Second Team selection Amalia Villarreal found the back of the net in the third minute. Villarreal's 21st career tally was Texas' quickest goal to start a season since Haley Berg's strike 25 second in against Rice on Aug. 18, 2017. Later in the half, Sadie Hoch doubled the Longhorns' lead by curling a shot from 25 yards out into the back right corner of the cage. In the closing minutes, Kennedi Cotter punctuated Bates' Texas debut with her first goal as a Longhorn. Texas finished the match with a 19-3 advantage in shots, including holding the Huskies without an attempt on target. The Longhorns controlled 74 percent of the possession, totaling seven corner kicks in the victory.
A NEW ERA — On Nov. 25, 2025, Margueritte Bates was named just the fifth Longhorns head soccer coach since the program's birth in 1993. Bates arrives on The Forty Acres following an extraordinary four-year tenure at UCLA, where she became the first rookie head coach to win the NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championship in 2022. During her time with the Bruins, Bates compiled a 67-13-9 (.803) ledger, the fourth-best mark of any program during that stretch. The two-time Pac-12 Coach of the Year guided UCLA to a pair of conference titles and four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances.
PRESEASON PRAISE — Five Longhorns received preseason recognition from the Southeastern Conference. Ashlyn Anderson, Mya Brandon, Ava McDonald, Hannah Tate and Amalia Villarreal all earned spots on the league's preseason watch list. McDonald, Tate and Villarreal lead the quintet, as Top Drawer Soccer slotted the trio among the top-100 players in women's soccer. McDonald checked in at No. 37, Villarreal ranked 42nd and Tate was listed at No. 51. Meanwhile, United Soccer Coaches identified Tate as a candidate for the Mac Hermann Trophy, as well as a midfielder to watch. Villarreal joined Tate on the watch list, while McDonald claimed her spot among the best forwards nationally.
GUESS WHO'S BACK, BACK AGAIN — The Longhorns return eight of their 11 starters from a season ago, highlighted by 2025 SEC Freshman of the Year Ava McDonald and two-time All-SEC Second Team selection Amalia Villarreal. Texas brings back 92 percent of its goals, the highest mark in the league. Meanwhile, 75.7 percent of the Longhorns' total points are returning in 2026. Six of Texas' top seven players in minutes played last season will don the burnt orange once again.
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK — The Longhorns welcome 15 newcomers to the 2026 roster, including five freshmen and 10 transfers. Texas' rookie class is headlined by Caroline Swann, who was ranked as the outlet's fifth-best overall recruit in the class of 2026. Meanwhile, the Longhorns' 10 transfers enter the season with a combined 12,088 minutes and 221 matches of collegiate experience. Ashlyn Anderson and Mya Brandon arrive on The Forty Acres fresh off a national championship at Florida State. Former top-10 recruit Callan Harrington joins the Longhorns following two standout seasons at LMU and 2025 Summit League Midfielder of the Year Hannah Tate bolsters Texas' backline. In net, Texas adds three goalkeeper, led by Montana transfer Bayliss Flynn, who brings the most experience of the group. Flynn led the NCAA with a .925 save percentage in 2024.
