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If teams are preparing to try and stop McAllen High scoring phenoms Julianna Millin and Gabby Gonzalez, they might want to rethink that philosophy. Because whenever Savannah Ruiz gets the ball on the end of her foot, it’s Showtime.
Ruiz showed her magical touch Thursday, scoring one goal and dropping in four assists, as the Bulldogs defeated Corpus Christi Ray 7-0 during the first day of the McAllen ISD Girls Soccer Showcase at McAllen Stadium.
Ruiz, a senior and the Bulldogs’ all-time career assists leader, gave the Bulldogs a 3-0 lead at the half on a penalty kick with no time remaining on the scoreboard. That goal came two minutes after McHi goalkeeper Allie Tawil rushed out of goal to face a two-on-none and made a sliding save to preserve the shutout.
“It was huge,” McHi head coach Patrick Arney said. “She’s a good goalie and making a save like that shows how much she has been working.”
Millin scored twice, five minutes apart during the second half as McHi extended its lead to 5-0 just nine minutes into the second half. Six different Bulldogs scored, including Ruiz, Millin (2), Gonzalez, Ena Garza, Lana Alvarado and Autumn Curl.
“That’s out midfield, they do a great job pressing,” Millin said. “They won the ball back, Savannah saw to it quickly and I just had to be there to finish it. Luckily I did.”
Ruiz’s final assist of the game was a perfectly sent corner kick that found Alvarado on the deep back post for a deadly header.
“I was baffled in the first half the way we were not playing or moving the ball well,” McHi head coach Patrick Arney said. “We talked about how we need to make out passes and play like a team at halftime and they stepped up – some of those goals were really fantastic.
“Savannah is our play-maker. She does a great job directing the plays, makes killer passes and has a heck of a shot. A coach’s dream.”
Lola Alvarado, playing in the back while center backs Maisen Dubrule and Emma Lopez are out, highlighted the day, taking a ball from beyond midfield, weaving and winding her way through the Ray defense, taking the ball deep into the box, defenders still trailing, and pushed a one-timer along the goal that Millin knocked in.
“She’s a pretty offensive player, and that goal was just amazing what she did,” Arney said. “Every year we need people to step up and with Maisen and Emma out we needed it today. It’s a testament to hem and their hard work and understanding. When you get your chance, you have to take it with both hands. Many girls did that today.
“That second team, they looked good and they were scoring. That’s invaluable. Ray is not a horrible team by any means but when we made plays happen, we made our own luck and then we’re not having to rely on Jules or Savannah and Gabby all the time. We can give them some rest.”
