Texas Longhorns soccer moving onto SEC play without star striker Trinity Byars
(This story was updated to correct a misspelling/typo.)
The Texas women’s soccer team will make history Thursday when it becomes the first Longhorns’ team to compete in an official SEC contest.
But the unbeaten squad, now 7-0-1 and ranked No. 11 in the United Soccer Coaches poll, will have to take on visiting Alabama without Trinity Byars, the program’s all-time leader in goals and one of the top strikers in the nation.
Texas coach Angela Kelly avoided any specifics about Byars injury but didn’t deny reports that the senior forward suffered a season-ending knee injury. Byars was hurt during a collision in front of the net with a Central Michigan player Sept. 1 in the fifth game of the season, according to reporting by Alistair Manliguez of The Daily Texan. Byars had already scored five goals with three assists before her injury, and she’ll likely end a decorated four-year career with 52 career goals.
No other Texas player had ever scored 50 goals at the time, and Byars is the current active leader in goals in Division I women’s soccer.
Kelly said Byars has a bright future in the sport and will likely be a high pick in next year’s National Women’s Soccer League draft.
“Trinity is extremely special,” Kelly said. “Her best days are ahead of her, and she's going to be an unbelievable professional. Every team in the league is looking at her and hoping that she's going to come to them.”
Lexi Missimo, the Longhorns’ All-American midfielder, has been on the same team with Byars since the two shared a soccer-centric childhood in the Dallas suburbs. She said the injury to one of her best friends “was just terrible.”
“I don’t wish that on anyone,” Missimo said. “I mean, I played with her since I was, like, 7 or 8 years old, and I haven't ever played soccer without her. So, it was definitely very impactful. Obviously, she's going to come back stronger and better than ever, so we have to step up.”
More: Texas soccer team beats Houston in Longhorns' first game as SEC program
Tide rolls in to open SEC play
The step up in SEC play starts with Alabama (7-2), a physical bunch expected to contend for the SEC championship. The match starts at 7 p.m. at Myers Stadium, and parking is available for just $5 with a preordered parking pass.
Hannah Waesch, who spent three seasons at Auburn before transferring to Texas for the 2023 campaign, said the Tide typifies SEC competition.
“Honestly, it’s going to be a lot of those 90-minute games, like a true 90-minute game, because everybody in the SEC is good, and everyone is going to give you their best for 90 minutes,” the scrappy midfielder said. “But you just have to fight to make sure you’re the team that comes out of every game on top. You just have to do whatever it takes to win.”
More: How will Texas women's soccer fare in the SEC? These foes look the toughest
Lexi Missimo leads high-powered offense
So far, Texas has been getting its wins with relentless assaults on the opposing goals. The Longhorns are averaging 24.4 shots a game, ranking fifth in the nation.
Missimo leads the team with seven goals and three assists, but dynamic freshman Amalia Villarreal has come on strong, especially after she joined the starting lineup because of the injury to Byars. In the three matches since Byars went down against Central Michigan, Villarreal has one goal and three assists for a total of five points.
“I think we’ve had a great nonconference preseason run here,” said Kelly, who spent 16 years coaching in the SEC at Tennessee before taking over the Texas program for the 2012 season. “Obviously, we’ve figured out ways to create multiple opportunities to put the ball in the back of the net. I’ve been really pleased with the number of shots created and equally as pleased with the amount of those shots that are quality by hitting the face of the goal. We’re hitting the face of the goal nearly 50% of the time, and that’s just a credit to the players and their selection and the opportunities they are creating for themselves.”
Defender Madison Haugen arrived as a graduate transfer this offseason from Georgia. She came close but could never quite claim a regular-season conference title during her four seasons with the Bulldogs. But she likes the Longhorns’ chances, especially with the grit they’ve shown while learning to play without Byars up top.
“I think we’ve adapted a lot during the preseason and faced a little adversity, but I think that’s helped us grow together as a team,” she said. “I think the nonconference games are super fun, but I think it’s just the best when you’re able to compete against the best. I think the SEC has some great teams, so that’s going to push us to play at our best. I’m just excited to see how well we do.”
Follow the American-Statesman on Facebook and X for more. Your subscription makes work like this possible. Get access to all of our best content with this tremendous offer.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas soccer moving onto SEC play without star striker Trinity Byars
