Texas soccer secures first SEC Championship in Longhorns History

The Texas Longhorns Women Soccer capture the schools first SEC Championship win.

In their inaugural season in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), the Texas Longhorns women’s soccer team clinched the program’s first SEC championship, marking a historic milestone for the university’s athletics department.

Under the leadership of head coach Angela Kelly, the Longhorns secured a 1-0 victory over South Carolina in the SEC championship match on November 10, 2024. The decisive goal came in the 79th minute when defender Carly Montgomery headed in a corner kick delivered by standout midfielder Lexi Missimo.

In a season that has seen the Texas Longhorns prove their strength of character in a new conference, their journey to the SEC Championship was capped by a thrilling 2-1 double-overtime win over Arkansas in the semifinals on Thursday.

The third-seeded Longhorns (6-3-1 SEC, 12-4-2 overall) found themselves locked in a 1-1 deadlock with the No. 2 seed Razorbacks after regulation and the first overtime period. With time winding down in the second extra session, fifth-year defender Lauren Lapomarda unleashed a 30-yard strike to score the game-winning goal—just the fourth of her career. The dramatic goal came with less than 90 seconds remaining, sending Texas to its first SEC tournament final and igniting celebration from the Longhorns’ faithful.

The Texas Longhorns women’s soccer team has demonstrated remarkable resilience throughout their inaugural season in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Transitioning from the Big 12, where they concluded the previous season with a commendable 6-3-1 record, the Longhorns faced significant challenges, including the loss of star forward Trinity Byars to a season-ending knee injury back in September.

Texas (16-3-1, 6-3-1) earned the SEC’s automatic bid to the NCAA women’s soccer national tournament. The tournament location and first-round matchups will be announced at 3 p.m. CT on Monday