THE BLUE and Lady Eagles both garnered victories over Adamson University (AdU) and Far Eastern University (FEU), respectively, on Sunday, March 20 at the McKinley Hill Stadium in Taguig City. Although there were standout players from both affairs, the victories were products of complete team efforts. From the goalkeeper up until the strikers, both teams functioned like well-oiled machines.

Lady Eagles

The lady booters won a defense-filled match against FEU, winning 1-0 to fuel their run towards a finals berth. Coming off a loss against the same team to end the first round, the lady booters were looking to exact revenge on the Tamaraws. With a disciplined defense led by goalkeeper Mariane Caparros, and a debut goal from Fiona Faulkner, the Blue and White were able to get back at FEU and secure the three points.

Caparros was tested mightily in the early stages by the Tamaraws, but she comfortably dealt with anything they had to offer. As early as the third minute, the keeper came to the rescue for the Ateneo after a corner kick; there was a big scuffle in the box after the ball was whipped with ferocity from the corner. Fortunately, Caparros was able to end the confusion and put a big paw on the ball.

Aiding Caparros was FEU themselves, as they failed to take advantage of their opportunities. The biggest of chances from the Tamaraws came in the form of a penalty miss. A hand ball infraction from Lady Eagle Cam Rodriguez awarded a spot kick for the Sampaloc-based squad. Luckily for Caparros and the Lady Eagles, Alesa Dolino missed the target for her team, striking it up and over the bar.

The breakthrough of the game came shortly after this, as Fiona Faulkner brought the Blue and White ahead in the 23rd minute. Making her starting debut, Faulkner showed everyone why she was selected by Head Coach Bob Manlulo. Rodriguez beat her defender with great skill before sending it into the Ateneo’s new starting piece. She made no mistake with the finish, powering the shot into the back of the net.

With the goal, the Lady Eagles took the lead and never looked behind. With a strong defensive effort, they were able to stuff all of FEU’s ensuing offensive possessions.

“I was actually surprised that coach put me in the start,” said the ecstatic Faulkner after the game. “My goal was just to mark one of their biggest threats, so I wasn’t attacking towards the end, but I think I did my part.”

This loss puts the Lady Eagles in third place with a 2-0-3 record and -2 goal difference in the elimination round standings of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 78 Women’s Football tournament. They are three points behind the University of the Philippines, who hold the second finals spot with nine points and a +3 goal difference overall.

Blue Eagles

Meanwhile, the blue booters dominated the AdU Soaring Falcons during the 8PM kick-off, scoring a season-high seven goals. The Blue and White also showed their improved defense, holding on to a clean sheet for the first time this season.

Missing from the starting lineup was defensive stalwart Carlo Liay, who picked up an injury during their last game against the University of the East. The Ateneo showed no ill effects from the absence, as they coolly controlled the match from top to bottom.

Their defense contained any kind of attacking possession from AdU; the Soaring Falcons would even be stopped before they got any kind of shot into play. Led by a strong performance from staple Center Back Jeremiah Rocha, the Eagles played their best defensive effort of the season. He commanded the defense brilliantly, barking orders to the team to ensure that everyone was on the same page.

The midfield meanwhile, was led by none other than Mikko Mabanag. Through his strong box-to-box play, the team captain was able to help the Ateneo control possession for the whole game. Whether it be going towards the goal to help the Ateneo on offense or going back on defense, he was all over the pitch on this one, being the engine of the team.

However, the huge pummeling would not be possible if not for their attacking corps, who never seemed to look at the score and treated it as if it were a tight 0-all affair throughout.

Michael Castillo started the proceedings in the fifth minute, scoring the easiest of tap-ins after a hard ground cross from Masyu Yoshioka. In the 21st minute, Mabanag converted a penalty kick, striking a hard ball to the bottom left corner. Yoshioka then outran the AdU defense in the 36th, converting on a fantastic solo-run from the halfway line. At the end of the half, the score was 3-0 in favor of the Blue and White.

The Ateneo then went on a rampage in the second half, scoring even more than they did in the first. Only four minutes into the half, Yoshioka reintroduced himself into the scorer’s sheet, striking a vicious shot into the bottom right corner, outside the reach of the keeper. Gayoso then went crazy in the 59th, scoring two quick goals in succession.

In under a minute, he scored from almost the same spot at the left of the box. First, he chipped the ball over the keeper and into the back of the net. Afterwards, he took the ground route, powering the shot into the bottom right. To put the icing on the cake, Yoshioka scored after dancing his way into the Adamson box in the 77th to secure the hattrick.

“The main thing we fixed is not the scoring,” said Mabanag in response to the team’s improvements across the board. “Our defense was intact, our midfield was great, hence the goals. The goals are just the end result.”

The Ateneo will be taking a three-game winning streak into the Holy Week break before a crucial affair against the league-leading University of Santo Tomas.

This win puts the Blue Eagles at fifth place with a 5-0-4 record and a +8 goal difference in the elimination round standings of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 78 Men’s Football tournament.

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