With their first two fixtures ending in scoreless draws, the Ateneo Lady Booters took to the field against the University of Santo Tomas (UST) with a first win in their sights. However, their hopes were quashed as the España-based squad handed Ateneo its first loss of the season, 4-0, on January 25 at the Ateneo Ocampo Field.

Similar to their preceding matches, the girls in blue failed to create any significant chances, which UST used to its advantage. Although the Ateneo XI displayed an array of nice passes, they lacked when it came to the final third of the pitch.

UST used this lack of finishing and scored in the closing minutes of the first half due to a miskick by an Ateneo player, only to be luckily played on by the Santo Tomas striker who fired home under Jasmine Matalam.

The Ateneo backline, which previously quelled most of the attacks in their first two games, seemed visibly shaken after the first goal, then was definitely weakened when center back Milka Romero was subbed out relatively early in the second half because of academic priorities. In addition, winger Yvette Gaston was stretchered off the field due to what looked like a serious injury—a certain blow to Ateneo’s title hopes if the injury proves severe.

UST, meanwhile, added further salt to the wound by scoring two more goals as the Lady Booters came off with the first loss of their campaign.

The Blue and White are currently in last place, tied in points with DLSU and UP but with inferior goal difference.