McALLEN – When freshman sensation Juliana Millin scored for McAllen High with 26 seconds remaining in regulation to tie the game, McAllen Rowe head coach John Martinez said it felt “like a kick on the gut.”
A few minutes later, that feeling turned into elation as the Warriors outscored the Bulldogs 4-3 in penalty kicks to capture a thrilling 2-1 victory in a highly anticipated mutual District 31-5A matchup between the city rivals.
Rowe’s win snapped a 22-game district winning streak for McHi and became the first district team to upend the Bulldogs other than La Joya Lincoln-Juarez in more than 85 games. Rowe is ranked No. 12 in the most recent Texas Girls Coaches Association Class 5A state poll.”
“For them to play so hard for 79 minutes and 30 seconds and for that to happen was tough,” Martinez said. “But they continued to push and the defense was great.”
Camila Gil, The Monitor’s All-Area Girls Soccer Newcomer of the Year last year, scored with four seconds remaining in the first half on a perfectly placed free kick from about 30 yards, with a high, rainbow shot that cleared the outstretched arms of McHi goalkeeper Bethany Sanchez.
“I saw a big gap on the back side and I just made sure I paced myself,” said Gil, who started lining up the ball with less than 20 seconds remaining. “I saw her playing more in the middle so I went for the back post and it went in.”
The Warriors were already flooding the field on the defensive side, giving up the time of possession game to McHi. After Gil’s goal ended the first half, it was all feet on defense.
“Thankfully, possession doesn’t win the game,” Martinez said. “At halftime I told them to keep playing defense, to not get lazy and play hard on that back side. They did that.”
The last five minutes of the second half were near chaos as McHi kept making runs and set up for at least two free kicks and a corner, before Millin broke free in the box and made a couple swipes at the ball, knocking it in.”
Rowe’s Ayloni Garcia, The Monitor’s All-Area Newcomer of the Year two seasons ago and a transfer from Mission High who had to sit out the varsity season last year, said that goal stung, but just briefly.
“It hurt, but I mean the game keeps on going,” she said. “They could’ve scored more than one goal tonight but we did our best and shut them down.
During the penalty kick portion, Martinez switched keepers and put Mia Mata in goal, following a solid performance from starting keeper Debrina Garcia.
“That’s why Mia has been team captain since she was a sophomore,” Martinez said. “She is also an all region volleyball player and knows how to come up big in big moments. That’s why I made that call. Debrina played great the entire game and it was nothing to do with her but Mia has been in many high-pressure situations before.”
Mata stopped Millin’s PK and Gil followed with a score for a 3-2 Rowe advantage. With the PKs tied at 3, Abby Rocha gave the Warriors a 4-3 advantage and McHi’s next attempt went wide, sending the Rowe squad excitedly swarming onto the field.
“It has been a long time since we beat McHi and not since I’ve here,” Mata said. “This feels good, really good.”
The teams will meet again at 6 p.m. Feb. 22 at McAllen Memorial Veterans Stadium,