The women’s soccer game last Thursday at Virginia marked a much anticipated moment for the team. Junior defender Katie Ruiz finally came back from an injury which had sidelined her for the first time in her N.C. State career.
Even when she was a freshman, Ruiz made a consistent impact for the Wolfpack. She appeared in all 19 games her first year, and started on the back line in 18 out of those 19 games. Last season, as a sophomore, Ruiz started every single game.
She was poised to have another impressive season this year, until the Red/White scrimmage at the end of preseason.
“On the last day of preseason in our Red and White scrimmage I dislocated my patella, broke my nose, and got a concussion,” Ruiz said.
The injury was a freak accident on a ball that was up for grabs, according to Ruiz.
“It was a slide tackle. It was really just a 50-50 ball,” she said. “It wasn’t a foul or anything like that.”
After the injury, Ruiz didn’t want to accept that she could be hurt seriously.
“When I walked off the field and sat on the bench, I was in a lot of pain. It was in the back of my mind, ‘please don’t let this put me out for the season,'” she said. “I knew that we were about to have such a successful year and I wanted to be a part of it. So [the thought] crossed my mind that night, but I was kind of in denial about it until I saw the doctor the next day.”
The prognosis was six to eight weeks. Yet Ruiz did not let the injury get her down. She knew that she could come back this season, and she worked hard in rehab and supported her teammates through every step of the season.
“When she got hurt — we knew that it killed her. We knew that she wanted to be on the field so bad,” senior midfielder Lindsay Vera said. “But the thing about Ruiz is that she hasn’t let that stop her from contributing. At practice and especially at the games, every single one of us can hear her helping us, giving us constructive criticism, or pointing out things.”
Sophomore forward Kara Baldy, who sympathizes with Ruiz because of having to battle multiple smaller injuries throughout her career, echoed Vera’s comments.”Most people would complain and bicker about it, but she has been really good about supporting us and not bringing the team down because she can’t play,” Baldy said.
Ruiz even traveled with the team on all road trips earlier in the year, even knowing she would not going to play.
Then, Ruiz was finally able to come back.
“I was really, really excited to get back into practice with the girls. Even though I was there the entire six weeks, it is different when you are involved in the drills. It was a really good feeling,” she said. “I was just so excited for Thursday. I subbed in 15 minutes, maybe, and I ended up staying in.”
Then on Sunday, against Virginia Tech, Ruiz made her first start of the season. Now, Ruiz is looking no where but forward as she tries to help her team compete in the ACC.
“I know that we definitely can [have success in the ACC]. I believe in the team,” she said. “Hopefully I can contribute to having success in the conference.”
