McALLEN — One year ago suddenly seems like ages for McAllen High senior Briana Claudio.
That’s how long it was, nearly to the day, when Claudio tore her left ACL during the bi-district round of the playoffs against Edcouch-Elsa.
Claudio said at the time she was done with soccer forever. She tore her other ACL prior to her sophomore season and missed the year. But, with some persuasion from mother and teammates, she returned.
Friday, at McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium, that decision to play again paid monster dividends. Claudio scored three times during the first half and McHi claimed an 8-0 victory over the same Edcouch-Elsa Yellow Jackets in the same bi-district round of the playoffs.
It was a story that came back full circle, and with a “they all lived happily ever after” ending.
The win sends McHi, the District 31-5A champions, to the area round at 6 p.m. Monday against Corpus Christi Veterans at the Corpus Christi’s Cabaniss East Field, a rematch of last year’s regional quarterfinals won by McHi 5-1. It defeated Veterans by the same score during the McAllen ISD girls soccer tournament at the beginning of this season.
“At first I was scared, just remembering that this is the team,” Claudio said. “But talking to (teammate) Mallory (Henderson) and my team they were like, ‘No, Bri, you’re OK.’ After awhile I got my confidence back and just started playing without thinking about it.
“I’ve had so many people supporting me who say they are amazed at what I have done. It’s been just so much support.”
From the start, the Bulldogs began raining shots on Edcouch, which came out playing 100% defense, hoping for a counter attack and score, and led 3-0 during the first 11 minutes of the match.
Then, Claudio scored on a cross from freshman Julianna Millin, who scored the previous two goals after Mallory Henderson opened the scoring seven minutes in.
“It was great to see them connect like that early on,” McHi head coach Pat Arney said. “They passed the ball and were patient. But it was huge to score that early. The longer you go without scoring, the more confidence the other team gains and the more anxious you get.”
Claudio scored again on a free kick from 20 yards with a wall of defenders in front of her. Her shot cleared the human wall and had enough touch on it to not climb over the crossbar, but hit the left post and ricochet into the right side for a 5-0 lead.
“(Coach Michael) Smith came up and said, ‘What about Bri here,’” Arney said. “She has such a great touch and showed it there. What a goal that was.”
Nine minutes later she rocketed a rebound off a keeper save, volleying it in the air and to the back of the net for the hat trick and a 6-0 lead.
Emma Wilkins and Milan Diaz got in the scoring action with a goal apiece during the second half.
Despite giving up those first-half goals, Edcouch-Elsa sophomore goalkeeper Alexa Rodriguez made several impressive saves while the Bulldogs barraged her with shots from all over the field. The Bulldogs controlled the ball close to 80% of the time during the dominant first half, making multiple runs on goal, using precision passing and giving Edcouch very few opportunities to counter.