THE ATENEO Lady Eagles suffered a weighty loss against archrivals DLSU Lady Archers, 0-5, on Wednesday, March 29 at the Far Eastern University-Diliman (FERN) Football Field in Quezon City.
After the loss, The Lady Eagles remain at 7 points with a 2-1-4 record and a -8 goal difference to stay in third place in the standings of the University Athletic Association in the Philippines (UAAP) Women’s Football tournament.
It was a bleak first half for the Lady Eagles having to compete with DLSU’s hard-hitting offense led by Kyra Dimaandal. After an opening from a scattered Ateneo defense, Dimaandal pursued the goal and got La Salle the lead in the 22nd minute. (0-1)
In the 31st minute, a cross from DLSU’s Sara Castaneda went past Ateneo’s line of defenders and was struck by Dimaandal past Ateneo keeper Marianne Caparros into the net. (0-2)
Caparros was frequently called upon in this match, saving multiple attempts from green-shirts Dimaandal, Castaneda and Nicole Andaya. After halftime, effective Lady Eagle defender Annika Ong was able to keep the defensive line alive, but the defenders were not able to withstand DLSU’s pounding.
In the 51st minute, Lady Archer Nina Arrieta was able to score off a rebound, with her shot going off the post and past Caparros. (0-3) Not long after in the 58th minute, Caparros caught Kyla Inquig’s free kick, but the catch was made inside the goal, with the ball past to goal line, giving La Salle their 4th goal against an already battered Ateneo squad. (0-4)
Queen Eagle Camille Rodriguez was the Lady Eagles’ playmaker, making attempts and weaving through La Salle’s formidable defense, but found herself alone in attack when she had the ball up the field.
A tap in from Castaneda in the 70th minute proved to be the final nail in Ateneo’s coffin, giving La Salle the eventual 5-0 win.
After suffering a fourth loss in five matches, a disappointed Coach Jay Pee Merida attributed it to the mentality of it all.
“It’s a more mental game. Napansin namin talaga pag La Salle kalaban namin, yung mentality ng team namin parang hindi sila. Wala yung winning [attitude]. Ito palagi pinaguusapan namin mga coaches based on the preseason against La Salle: talagang hindi kami nagkakadikit, never kami nagcreate ng opportunity or magscore sa La Salle. (It’s a more mental game, We’ve noticed that whenever we’re up against La Salle, the team’s mentality isn’t like what it usually is. They lose their winning attitude. Us coaches, we’ve always talked about it based on our preseason with La Salle, how we never really get to stick, we never create opportunities or even score against La Salle),” said Merida.
The Lady Eagles’ next game will be against the University of the Philippines on Sunday, April 23, 3PM at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila.
Ateneo Starting XI: Caparros (GK), Amoncio, M. Caterdilla, N. Caterdilla, Diaz, Esguerra, Ong, Sabio, Siy, Velasco, Rodriguez (C)
Substitutions: 30’ Bernardo for Esguerra, 72’ Morales for Caparros, 75’ Cotoco for Siy, 81’ Khio for Rodriguez, 85’ Roxas for Sabio
La Salle Starting XI: Palacios (GK) (C), Andaya, Arrieta, Castaneda, Dimaandal, Duran, Inquig, Ledesma, Metillo, Navaja, Tejada
Substitutions: 60’ Hodges for Andaya, 76′ Concepcion for Ledesma, 80’ Turtur for Palacios, 80’ Ferrer for Dimaandal, 85’ Del Mundo for Arrieta
