On game days, Texas soccer faces off against elite female competition.
In practice, male practice players help the coaching staff push and prepare the team.
Male practice players must be full-time students at Texas and have former experience playing soccer. Many of them, like sophomore Mateo Moreno, also play for the Texas Men’s Soccer club team.
“It’s beneficial for them because we provide a different type of play style than what they’re regularly used to,” Moreno said. “So they learn how to adapt and (do) different things, like how to change the way they play based on the people they’re playing against.”
Moreno first joined as a practice player as a freshman last year. After a disappointing 2025 season that saw the departure of longtime head coach Ange Kelly, Moreno is now helping the team prepare for its first spring friendly matches under newly-appointed head coach Margueritte Bates.
According to Moreno, the male practice players served a background role in practice under Kelly. Now, the new coaching staff has made an intentional effort to welcome them.
“The new coaching staff invited us out, and they had us sit on what you call a hot seat,” Moreno said. “We would sit in front of the coaches, staff and the team, and they would ask us questions. … It was a way of introducing ourselves.”
The first of the spring friendlies will kick off on March 7, against professional side Houston Dash. Then, Texas soccer travels to Texas State on April 3 and hosts UTSA on April 11, before rounding out the spring season against conference rival Oklahoma on April 19 at the Cotton Bowl.
In preparation for these games, Texas soccer practices every weekday. This schedule is difficult for Moreno, who is working toward a physics degree, so the team allows him to help out when he can.
“They’re so flexible, if I ever need the day off for school work or anything else, they are pretty lenient about that,” Moreno said. “Overall, it’s tough but doable.”
This January, Texas soccer posted a flyer on social media to invite more students like Moreno to join the squad as a practice player. This flyer caught the attention of sophomore Eitan Eiger, who played goalie in high school before coming to Texas.
“Ever since I’ve gone to college, I feel like I’ve been missing that competitive outlet,” Eiger said. “I’ve been playing just for fun with my friends, but I just kind of wanted something more, like on a bit of a higher level. And obviously, the Texas women’s soccer program is great, so I was looking to get involved in it.”
After reaching out to the team and describing his experience as a soccer player, Eiger was contacted. Now in the process of completing the necessary paperwork and health tests, Eiger awaits his first practice with the team.
“I have more of a vested interest in the team now that I’m actively trying to participate in it,” Eiger said. “I’m definitely more involved.”