IN THEIR previous meeting, a last-minute goal by Lady Maroon, Mary Solis, salvaged a one-all draw with the Ateneo Lady Booters. In the final match-up of the season on February 20 at Ocampo field, the Katipunan rivals met anew, with a familiar face stealing the victory once again.

Despite the Lady Booters having better quality shots on goal, the Lady Moroons walked off the pitch victors—Solis, yet again, scoring the clincher, giving the Lady Maroons the 1-0 win.

The Lady Maroons had the first shot on goal of the game, as striker, Kaira Dimatulac, hustled into a solo breakaway, which was eventually saved by goalkeeper, Gely Tiu.

The Lady Booters retaliated on the offensive with opportunities coming from Cecilia Dayrit, Yvette Gaston and Monica Santos—with none of the girls being able to finish. Their closest attempt came from Lydia Stroud-Lusk’s long ball, which set up Cess Trinidad for the break away.

As Trinidad inched toward the goal from the left, UP goalkeeper, Bea Quintos, rapidly closed the striker down. Trinidad unloaded a low cross across the goal to Gaston, who was racing into dangerous striking zone for a seamless open shot at goal. Unfortunately, Gaston’s strike was wide.

In the latter minutes of the second half, the Lady Maroons finally broke off from scoreless obscurity, after the Diliman squad was awarded a free kick just outside of the penalty box.

Solis struck the ball high and deep into the left side of the goal. Although Tiu, seemed to have a firm grasp of the ball, it slipped out of her hands and into the goal, giving the Lady Maroons the one goal advantage.

Though the girls in Blue had 15 minutes to redeem themselves, the Lady Booters were unable to recover, giving the UP Lady Maroons their first win of the season.

The Lady Booters finish the season at fourth, ahead of UP only by goal difference. Meanwhile, FEU and UST will square off in the Finals, while DLSU, last season’s champions, will finish at third.