Texas freshman Lexi Missimo earns Big 12 honors after dazzling debut

AUSTIN, Texas – A sparkling debut in the Burnt Orange & White that included her first career goal and two assists has led to honors as Texas soccer rookie midfielder Lexi Missimo has been named the Big 12 Conference’s Soccer Freshman of the Week for March 8.

This marks the second weekly league accolade for the Longhorns during the 2020-21 season after senior Savannah Madden was honored as the Big 12 Conference Goalkeeper of the Week back on Nov. 3, 2020.

Having entered Texas as a midterm enrollee and the No.1-ranked recruit in the 2020 Top Drawer Soccer IMG Academy Top 150 rankings, Missimo wasted no time making her presence felt by scoring her first collegiate goal (on a penalty kick) and dishing two assists for four total points in her collegiate debut last Friday against Texas State (W, 4-0).

With the Longhorns already leading the Bobcats, 1-0, Missimo got her night’s statistical contributions started by delivering the final ball on senior midfielder/forward Haley’s Berg’s 29th minute goal. The freshman was back creating for the Burnt Orange & White just 1:55 later as her pinpoint cross from the right wing was volleyed home on one touch from nine yards out by junior forward Mackenzie McFarland. At 51:04, after Berg was fouled in the box, Missimo was called upon to take the penalty. The Southlake, Texas, product calmly stepped to the spot and drove home her first collegiate goal to join freshman teammate Presley Echols as Longhorns to score in their collegiate debut in 2020-21. Missimo started the match against Texas State and played 81 total minutes while registering five shots.

Missimo and the Longhorns (5-5-0) are slated to return to the pitch on Fri., April 26, in a 7 p.m. CT road contest at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.