THE ATENEO Women’s Football Team (AWFT) opened their Philippine Football Federation (PFF) Women’s League Cup campaign on a high note after defeating the Stallion Laguna Football Club, 4-1, on Sunday, November 6. The match was held at the PFF National Training Center in Carmona, Cavite.
It was a push-and-pull match during the opening minutes of the first half as both teams threatened to break each other’s defenses. The first real chance of the game for the Blue Eagles came at the 34th minute when Joyce Semacio skimmed the bar with a left-foot shot from just outside the penalty box.
The breakthrough, however, came two minutes after as Semacio unleashed a long-range right-foot volley which Stallion goalkeeper Hazel Arce failed to deal with. However, the Katipunan-based squad then conceded a goal on the other end as Stallion FC’s Jenny Solis converted on a Saichiko Benjamin cross. Despite Ateneo’s liveliness in the first half, Stallion F.C. was able to ride the storm and enter half-time on level terms, 1-1.
At the start of the second half of play, the Blue Eagles came out as the more aggressive team. In the 50th minute, Semacio set Maria Angeles through on goal with an overhead pass, but the Atenean’s shot narrowly missed its target.
Intensifying the pressure, Ateneo’s positive build-up play on the attack only paid off at the 59th minute. As Team Captain Patricia Fransisco located Semacio on the left wing, the striker put in a low cross which was unluckily bumped by the Stallion defender Abigail Corvera to the back of her own net.
The floodgates were then opened as the Blue Eagles dictated the tempo right until the final whistle. At the 72nd minute, Semacio picked up her second goal courtesy of another shot from outside the box, taking a slight deflection from her teammate Kassandra Zalamea on the way in. The AWFT then added one more goal to their lead as Soleil Schroth tapped one in from inside the penalty box off a pass from Zalamea. The goal from Ateneo’s winger ultimately sealed the victory for the Blue and White, 4-1.
The Blue Eagles look to build on the win versus Stallion when they face Tuloy Football Club on Sunday, November 13 at 10:00 AM at the PFF National Training Center. Fans can watch Ateneo’s games live on PFF’s YouTube channel and Facebook page.
Ateneo Starting XI
(GK) Casals Chelssy
Soleil Schroth
Maria Vanessa Angeles
Gabrielle Tuaño
Kassandra Zalamea
Joyce Semacio
Andrea Avedillo
(Captain) Patricia Fransisco
Maria Dungo
Princess Pelipel
Astrid Ignacio
Stallion Laguna F.C. Starting XI
(GK) Hazel Arce
Leah Cruz
Abigail Corvera
Viava Africa
Yanzie Yalong
Jan Naval
Jenny Tolis
(Captain) Sabrina Nierras
Saichiko Benjamin
Avigael Aguelo
Niña Ordillo
