DESPITE SUSTAINING composure throughout their University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87 opener, the Ateneo Women’s Football Team (AWFT) ultimately submitted in added time, 0-1, against the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons. The game was held earlier this evening at the UP Diliman Football Stadium in Quezon City.
The loss currently puts the Blue Eagles at a 0-0-1 win-draw-loss record in the group stage of the UAAP Women’s Football tournament.
Despite the heartbreaking finish, veteran goalkeeper Chelssy Casals served timely defensive stops to fortify the Blue and White’s walls against their Katipunan rivals. Alongside Casals’ strenuous feat, rookie-forward Jada Bicierro bolstered the team’s infield rhythm with her consistent attempts at close range.
The opening half of the match witnessed a battle of possession between the Blue Eagles and the Fighting Maroons, with UP opting for a high press on the defensive end from the opening minutes.
Meanwhile, forward Angely Alferez took charge of the Blue and White’s offense at the fifth minute. Alferez aimed to cop Ateneo’s first goal of the season, but the ball went directly to the hands of UP goalkeeper Eunice Eduave.
Following their headstrong demeanor in the first minutes of the match, the Blue Eagles kept their composure as Jada Bicierro circled in several attempts to score a goal at close range at the 13th minute. Even with UP’s offensive front, Team Captain Soleil Scroth, Gabbie Tuaño, and KC Zalamea spearheaded a hopeful turnaround of the first minutes for the Blue and White, with productive possessions to open scoring opportunities by the 20-minute mark.
Down the stretch, Casals gated the Ateneo goal as UP’s Anya Fuentes attempted to draw first blood 25 minutes in. The Fighting Maroons kept imposing physicality to challenge Bicierro’s offensive execution toward the final minutes of the opening 45, yet the intense deadlock at the backend of the half left both teams on equal footing, 0-0.
After the halftime break, both teams showed eagerness to score an opening goal for their respective side, each taking turns to generate offensive actions in a gritty back and forth.
In the 54th minute, the momentum quickly began to shift into the Blue Eagles’ favor as they created multiple opportunities through fast paced counter-attacking offense, generated through runs by Bicierro that saw her create four chances for the Katipunan-based squad.
The Fighting Maroons refused to stay silent, however, as they created two quick opportunities in the 63rd minute. Despite failing to convert these chances, UP continued to slowly test Ateneo’s defenders through accurate passing and patient offense.
With an intent to fight back, Ateneo shortly generated the best chance of the game, getting in behind and crossing the ball to Bicierro. Although Bicerro failed to make contact with the ball, Chrisia Espiritu quickly followed up the miss, but ultimately hit the top of the crossbar.
The final moments of the match saw the Blue Eagles produce two one-on-one attacks against UP goalkeeper Eunice Eduave. Despite these chances, Eduave came up big, leaving the box early to save both of Ateneo’s attempts to score.
Despite the constant back and forth throughout the match, UP eventually had the last laugh as in the third minute of stoppage time, Maria Chantal Van Ommeren sent in the lone goal of the game, sealing the match in favor of the Fighting Maroons, 1-0.
Eager to avenge their loss, the AWFT will face the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws next Saturday, September 28, at 4:00 PM in the same venue.
Starting XI:
Ateneo (0): Casals (GK), Alferez, Bicierro, Eval, Francisco, Halili, Lim, Schroth, Tolentino, Tuaño, Zalamea
UP (1): Eduave (GK), Espinosa, Facturanan, Fuentes, Kim, Montero, Moreno, Muros, Narido, Napiza, Tundag
Standings – Points (Goal Difference):
- DLSU Lady Booters – 3 (+2)
- UP Fighting Maroons – 3 (+1)
- FEU Lady Tamaraws – 0 (0)
- ATENEO Blue Eagles – 0 (-1)
- UST Lady Booters – 0 (-2)
