When McAllen Rowe girls soccer head coach John Martinez met Ayloni Garcia, the then-freshman was playing for a different high school.
“We won 5-2 and marked Ayloni with our best defender, who went on to play college,” Martinez said. “Ayloni scored both goals against us. That was the first time I saw what she could produce on the field and knew she was very special.”
Garcia transferred to Rowe after that season, having to sit out the UIL-mandatory 365 days and missing her sophomore campaign.
“It hurt a lot,” she said. “I played soccer my entire life, and not playing a full year hurt me. It drained a lot out of me and took the best out of me. Then I was, like, ‘I’ve got two more years to give it my all,’ and I’ve been balling out ever since.”
She extended her explosive, balling-out career Wednesday at the McAllen Rowe gym in front of family, friends, coaches and others, signing her National Letter of Intent to continue her athletic and academic career at UTRGV, an NCAA Division 1 program that competes in the Western Athletic Conference.
Garcia has been nothing but clutch for the Warriors and instant offense. Her technical skills are as good, or maybe better, than any player in the Valley. She scored 28 goals her freshman year en route to being named The Monitor’s All-Area Newcomer of the Year. After sitting out her sophomore year, she returned like a shooting star, scoring 35 goals and dishing out 19 assists while being named team MVP and to the all-area first team.
She’s only expanded her skill sets and ability to score at will this year. Just a little past the midway point of district play, Garcia has 38 goals (23 in district) and 21 assists. Despite popping her hamstring a week ago, she walked up to Martinez during a game against PSJA Memorial in which the Warriors were having difficulties getting on the scoreboard.
“She walked up to me and said I’m going in,” Martinez recalled. “A minute later, she scored.”
Garcia said choosing UTRGV was simple. She knew that was her school during her visit.
“Ever since I got to know some of the girls, the connection we had on and off the field was something you dream about,” she said. “I just fell in love with it. Once I visited, I knew this was the school. And my family will be close so they can go and support me like they always have.”