Villarreal Named SEC Freshman of the Year, Three Longhorns Honored on All-SEC Teams

The Texas Longhorns made a strong SEC debut with Lexi Missimo, Mia Justus, and Amalia Villarreal earning All-SEC honors.

The Texas Longhorns made an impressive entrance into the SEC this season, led by exceptional performances from Lexi Missimo, Mia Justus, and Amalia Villarreal. In recognition of their outstanding play, Villarreal was named SEC Freshman of the Year, and Missimo and Justus received All-SEC Team honors, representing Texas on the First, Second, and Third Teams.

Lexi Missimo’s remarkable consistency on the field earned her a spot on the All-SEC First Team, making her the first Texas player to achieve this honor. Already a three-time All-Big 12 First Team honoree, Missimo’s 2024 season included a league-leading 33 points from 12 goals and nine assists. Her contributions were crucial in Texas’ conference matches, where she either scored or assisted in nearly every game. With this achievement, she joins an elite group of Texas soccer players with four first-team all-conference honors, alongside Longhorn legends Kasey Moore and Kelly Wilson.

Goalkeeper Mia Justus continued her streak of success, earning all-conference recognition in her third different conference. Justus recorded 10 shutouts this season, playing a vital role in Texas’ defense. Her efforts included crucial clean sheets against top SEC teams like Texas A&M and Georgia. In a standout match against Arkansas, she set a personal best with 10 saves, showcasing her reliability and defensive skills.

Freshman sensation Amalia Villarreal capped her debut season with the SEC Freshman of the Year award. The Michigan native quickly made her presence felt, leading all SEC freshmen with 14 points from five goals and four assists. Known for her energy and skill, Villarreal delivered standout performances against teams like LSU and Texas A&M, where she scored and assisted in each match, making a strong case for her Freshman of the Year title.

Texas (13-3-2, 6-3-1 SEC) enters the SEC Tournament as the third seed, set to play on Tuesday, Nov. 5, against the winner of Auburn and LSU. The match will take place at the Brosnaham Soccer Complex in Pensacola, Fla., at 2 p.m. CT.