THE ATENEO Lady Booters were looking to make use of home court advantage as they faced arch-rival De La Salle University (DLSU) at the Moro Lorenzo Football Field last January 19. However, the match ended with the scoreboard at 1-1.
The last time these teams faced each other, the results were similar result. With DLSU holding on to a one-goal lead for most of the match, it was the late heroics of Lady Booter Camille Rodriguez who equalized the game with 20 seconds left in regulation.
Evident in the play of the Lady Booters was their hunger for a win against this particular foe. Opening the match with an aggressive offensive attack, the Blue and White launched four goal attempts in the first 13 minutes alone, none of them finding their target. It was Rodriguez again who spearheaded the charge, pitching in two out of the four aforementioned attempts at the second and third minute marks.
Her efforts were eventually rewarded as she hit the first and only goal for the Lady Booters. Exploiting a hole in the DLSU defense on the left side of the field, the Ateneo gunner snuck behind the Green and White and calmly kicked ball past their goal keeper Inna Palacio at the 23rd minute.
DLSU was able to push a counterattack seven minutes later, launching their first goal attempt at the 30th minute. However, the shot went wild when Meryll Ledesma avoided a number of Ateneo defenders blocking her path.
The rest of the half saw a stalemate played out by both sides at midfield, eventually giving way when Ateneo striker Milka Romero broke away from a scuffle to attempt a header at the 45-minute mark. Unfortunately, the ball merely lobbed straight into the hands of Palacio as time expired.
The second half was opened by two more attempts by Rodriguez, both times (52′ and 57′) being taken after beating several DLSU defenders off the dribble. However, the lack of ball movement made goalkeeper Palacio’s job much easier.
DLSU caught a break at the 61st minute, when the Ateneo was unable to control a lose ball last touched by Lasallian Chermaine Guancia. The ball lobbed high out of the reach of the Lady Booters, eventually rebounding inside the goal to tie the match at one apiece.
The rest of the match saw the Ateneo’s earlier offensive aggression channeled into their defense, as the DLSU attackers were unable to get past midfield. Their aggression was mirrored by their Lasallian counterparts, as both teams began exchanging fouls. This led to a few injuries, stopping the game several times. Ateneo rookie Isabella Sabio was taken out of the field on a stretcher.
With three minutes left in regulation, DLSU gained a burst of energy. Three goals were attempted in that span, highlighted by DLSU striker Guancia out-sprinting two Lady Booters before attempting a goal. However, it proved to be insufficient as the Ateneo was able to hold off the DLSU offense just enough before time expired, ending the game in a draw.
With the draw, the team stands at second place with eight points and +2 in goal difference behind University of Santo Tomas who has 10 points and a +3 goal difference.
The Ateneo Lady Booters’ next game will be against Far Eastern University on January 26, 1pm at the Moro Lorenzo Football Field.
