NIGHT OF EMOTION FOR RUIZ DALLAS FORWARD RETURNS TO HDC.

Byline: Larry Morgan Staff Writer

CARSON - They call Carlos Ruiz ``El Pescadito'' - ``The Little Fish'' - but there is nothing small about what he has accomplished in Major League Soccer.

The Guatemalan striker terrorized opponents for three seasons with the Galaxy, and he's at it again with his new team, FC Dallas, the Galaxy's opponent at 7 tonight at Home Depot Center.

Ruiz, 26, led the Galaxy in scoring the past three seasons - he was MLS's top goal-scorer in 2002 and '03 - and might still be doing so were it not for the arrival of Landon Donovan just before the start of the regular season. Ruiz was traded to Dallas for the allocation, and to create salary-cap room, the Galaxy used to acquire the U.S. star.

Ruiz said the trade did not sit well with him.

``Initially, I was very upset,'' said Ruiz, who in 72 games with the Galaxy scored 50 goals, second on the club's career list to Cobi Jones' 61. ``I felt very bad about it. I had seen rumors in the media (while I was) with the (Guatemalan) national team, and nobody came face to face and told me about it.

``At first I felt bad, but now I feel much better. Dallas has treated me very well and made me feel right at home. I want to win and prove to the Galaxy that it was a mistake getting rid of me in the first place.''

Ruiz's target tonight will be Galaxy goalkeeper Kevin Hartman, who ranks Ruiz as ``probably the best goal-scorer in MLS history.''

``As defenses have gotten better, Carlos has shown he's been able to step up,'' said Hartman, in his ninth season with the Galaxy. ``His ability to use his body is unbelievable. He gets in great goal-scoring positions and has a knack for getting the ball in the back of the net.''

Ruiz, who has two goals - both on penalty kicks - and two assists for FC Dallas (3-0-1), led MLS in goals in 2002 (24) and 2003 (15) and, although limited to 20 games by injury and international duty, tied for third last year with 11.

The Galaxy (2-1-0) was willing to surrender Ruiz because it is unlikely he will return to MLS when his contract expires after this season. He has expressed interest in playing in Europe. Donovan, considered the finest U.S. talent, wants to play in Los Angeles long-term.

FC Dallas, the Western Conference leader, also features rising U.S. national team striker Eddie Johnson, former Galaxy defenders Greg Vanney (Hartman's UCLA roommate) and Steve Jolley, and former San Jose midfielder Richard Mulrooney.

--Reunion: The Galaxy's first alumni game, at 5 p.m., will feature former U.S. national team great Paul Caligiuri, Salvadoran playmaker Mauricio Cienfuegos, Mexican stars Jorge Campos and Luis Hernandez, and Dan Calichman, L.A.'s first captain.

--Facing the best: Home Depot Center's other tenant, Chivas USA, is in Foxboro, Mass., to take on the New England Revolution. Chivas (0-3-1) has the worst record in MLS, with only one point, and has given up a league-worst 11 goals. New England (3-0-1) has the best record, with 10 points (ahead of FC Dallas on goal differential) and has scored a league-best 12 goals, three apiece by Clint Dempsey, Pat Noonan and Taylor Twellman.

Larry Morgan, [phone], Ext. 2272

larry.morgan(at)sgvn.com

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Carlos Ruiz has scored two goals, both on penalty kicks, since leaving the Galaxy for FC Dallas.

Victor Decolongon/Getty Images