Texas sophomore midfielder Amalia Villarreal celebrates after scoring on a penalty kick in the last seconds of the game against Vanderbilt on Sept. 26, 2025.
Texas soccer will return home with its 12th loss of the season after falling to its arch rivals, the Oklahoma Sooners, 4-2.
The Longhorns got out to an early lead, taking a 1-0 scoreline into halftime. Texas was not able to hang onto the lead and was outscored 4-1 in the second half, with two late goals to seal its defeat.
In normal fashion, it was a slow start in the early portion of the game, with both teams feeling each other out. It was especially evident in the rivalry matchup as the first shot attempted from either side did not come until nearly 15 minutes into the first period.
Once the shots started, though, they did not stop. The Longhorns found themselves the most active squad for the majority of the first 45 minutes of the ball game, attempting six shots on the Oklahoma net. Only one from freshman forward Ava McDonald hit the goal, forcing a simple save from Sooner senior goalkeeper Caroline Duffy.
However, with the first half fading away, the Longhorns found the back of the net, courtesy of sophomore forward Amalia Villarreal. With a solo run from midfield, the sophomore dribbled the ball deep into Oklahoma territory until she reached right outside the 18-yard box. She struck the ball into the bottom left corner past Duffy for the go-ahead score.
Texas finished off the first half registering six shots compared to Oklahoma’s two, while also having two more shots on goal. Oklahoma’s single shot on frame came late in the first half from senior forward Luciana Setteducate, and all the shot needed was a simple save for Longhorns redshirt freshman goalkeeper Kendell Williams to steer away the danger.
Right out of the break, the Longhorns managed to control the flow of the game much like they did in the first 45 minutes. However, midway through the half, the Sooners found a breakthrough from a set piece when their goalkeeper dangerously sent a long free kick into the Longhorns’ box. After a few bounces in the box, junior forward Naomi Clark was able to deflect the ball past the Longhorns’ goalkeeper for the score.
The Longhorns recaptured their narrow lead thanks to a long throw-in from redshirt junior defender EmJ Cox. The ball pinged around the box like a game of pinball before redshirt freshman midfielder Molly MacMillan tapped the ball into the back of the net.
That lead quickly faded as Oklahoma’s sophomore forward Lexi Dendis ripped a strike from inside the box that found the bottom right of the goal, equalizing the score.
From there, the Longhorns unraveled. Oklahoma senior midfielder Alexis Washington got on the end of a cross at the back post and tapped the ball in for the team’s third goal of the game. The Longhorns would not be able to respond before the Sooners scored their fourth goal, the final dagger in the Longhorns’ defeat.
Texas will have one final game of the season remaining as they return home to host Ole Miss on Oct. 26 at 2 p.m.