AFTER AN entertaining game filled with high-octane scoring, the Ateneo Women’s Football Team (AWFT) bowed out of the United Women’s Invitational Football League’s quarterfinals to Tuloy FC, 4-7. The match took place at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in the City of Manila last August 17.

Tuloy opened the scoring at the 13th minute when Ateneo was unable to stop their attack down the right hand side, allowing Lanie Ortillo to find the back of the net for a 1-0 lead.

The Blue and White quickly responded with their high press that forced a mistake from Tuloy. KC Zalamea then put Ateneo on the board with an audacious chip from outside the box to beat the Tuloy keeper, 1-1.

Tuloy immediately retaliated by going with the same attack pattern down the right side, with Louraine Evangelista latching on to the ball and scoring with a chip shot of her own, 2-1. The Blue Eagles’ left flank continued to be exploited by Tuloy, with Joan Centino tapping in from a cross at the 41st minute to double Tuloy’s lead, 3-1.

Around the end of the half, Angely Alferez scored at the second minute of stoppage time to provide the Katipunan-based squad a lifeline heading into the break. The forward capitalized on a Tuloy defender’s error, rounded past the goalkeeper, and steadily targeted her shot into the bottom left corner of the empty goal, 2-3.

Goals were in no short supply at the start of the second half, with the Blue Eagles coming out swinging at the game’s continuation. Ateneo equalized again by winning the ball back with their counterpressing, ending the sequence with another Zamalea lob from outside the box, 3-3.

However, Ateneo’s momentum was immediately halted as they failed to stop Tuloy’s patented attack sequence down the right flank, allowing an Evangelista goal at the 47th minute, 3-4. 10 minutes later, Tuloy’s Sara scored from a tap-in after their offense beat Ateneo’s left side, 5-3.

At the 70th minute, Ateneo could not keep up with Isabella Bandoja, who dribbled past four Ateneo defenders and slotted the ball past the keeper to extend Tuloy’s lead to 6-3. Ateneo was not given any time to breathe, as a devastating counter-attack from Tuloy led to another Bandoja goal two short minutes later, 3-7.

Despite Tuloy’s relentless barrage, the Ateneans refused to go out silently. Ateneo’s trademark high pressing forced a Tuloy defender into a bad pass, allowing Jada Bicierro to drive her shot from just outside the box at the 82nd minute, 4-7. Bicierro’s goal proved to be just a consolation, with the score ending 7-4 in favor of Tuloy at the full time whistle.

The AWFT commendably ended their run at the United Women’s Invitational Football League’s quarterfinals stage. The Blue Eagles also scored eight goals while conceding 14 throughout the tournament, along with an additional clean sheet. Bicierro was the team’s top scorer with four goals, with Alferez and team captain Zalamea chipping in with two goals each.