SOUTH HADLEY, MASS. – The 2016 NEWISA Division III All New England teams were announced and Mount Holyoke College student-athlete Sara Sanaú Ruiz was one of 36 players recognized. The sophomore was tabbed as a Third Team selection.
A forward out of Zaragoza, Spain, Sanaú Ruiz was an offensive spark for the Lyons, posting a NEWMAC-best 12 assists on the year. She added five goals for a team-high 22 points. Sanaú Ruiz also recorded top marks in shots (52) and shots on goal (25).
The former P.P. Dominicos – Cardenal Xavierre High School standout ranked 16th in Division III with a 0.67 assists per contest average. She also ranked 19th among the nation's best in total assists.
During the season, Sanaú Ruiz posted at least one assist in seven games, including her four-assist game to open the season against Southern Vermont. She led the NEWMAC in assists, while ranking fourth in points. Additionally, she notched a team-best four goals in conference play.
Sanaú Ruiz also earned NEWMAC Offensive Player of the Week once this year and was a repeat selection to the NEWMAC All-Conference First Team. In addition to her outstanding play, she also recorded several program milestones, including most assists in a season (12) and assists per game in a season (.67).
As a first year, Sanaú Ruiz started in all 19 games, recording 15 goals and an assist for a team-best 31 points. The forward finished with 87 shots, 41 on goal. She also led the team in a number of categories, including goals, game-winning goals, points, shots, and shots on goal.
Sanaú Ruiz scored all three goals for the Lyons in a 3-1 win over Rensselaer and posted two goals, including the game-winning goal in a 2-1 win over Bryn Mawr College. Also highlighting her rookie season in 2015 was the game winning goal in a 3-2 win over Western New England, as well as the lone goal in a 1-0 victory against Clark.
Sanaú Ruiz finished second in the NEWMAC for goals, third in points, and third for shots in 2015. She was also named the NEWMAC Offensive Performer of the Week on September 28th and was later tabbed to the NEWMAC All-Conference First Team.
Mount Holyoke finished the season with a record of 8-10 overall and went 2-8 in NEWMAC play. The squad performed well at home, finishing with a record of 8-3. The Lyons posted 84 points, which ranks at the top of the program record book for a season.
