With the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87 Women’s Football Tournament fast approaching, this season preview evaluates the current iteration of the Ateneo Women’s Football Team (AWFT) as they aim to continue rising up the collegiate football ranks.
AFTER A long freefall ever since their UAAP Season 79 podium finish, the AWFT now aims to move another step forward in their rebuild. With the team continuing to build their long-term core and refine their in-game philosophy, Season 87 serves as a proving ground for this group of Blue Eagles as they journey back to the UAAP summit.
The Blue Eagles started off the first round of Season 86 with consecutive losses to the De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Booters and the Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws. However, the Blue and White did not waver, securing a credible draw against the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons and copping their first post-pandemic point.
The Loyola Heights-based unit then closed out the first round with a decisive 2-0 victory over the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Lady Booters, marking their first UAAP win since 2019.
Despite their laudable efforts, the Blue and White ended their season in fourth place overall after dropping all their second-round fixtures. With the Loyola Heights-based squad scoring five and conceding 34 goals throughout the season, Toochie Eval’s two goals made her Ateneo’s top marksman, while last season’s rookie Angely Alferez was the squad’s chief provider in assists with three.
Now reinforced by a promising roster of highly-touted rookies and experienced veterans, the Blue Eagles are dead set on avenging last season’s finish with podium honors in Season 87. After finding their on- and off-field chemistry in preseason friendlies, the AWFT entered the pitch primed and hungry to ignite a comeback to the podium for the first time since 2017.
Preseason promises
Photo by River Elgincolin
Gabrielle: Following their show of athletic prowess during the off-season, the AWFT dons newfound confidence on their sleeve as they enter Season 87. Eager to surpass expectations, the Blue and White’s roster displays promise after their quarterfinal finish in the United Women’s Invitational League (UWIL).
The Katipunan-based squad asserted their headstrong demeanor to claim a vindictive victory in their debut match against UST. The highly coveted rookie Jade Bicierro, who drilled a clutch goal at stoppage time, brought a 4-3 finish for the Blue and White. With her pivotal role in the team’s success, she was awarded with Player of the Game honors by the esteemed league. However, Ateneo’s strong UWIL opener was soon followed by hard-fought affairs against Kaya FC-Iloilo, Tuloy FC, and the UP Fighting Maroons, who all denied the Blue Eagles of clinching their second tournament win.
In this winless yet valiant stretch, the Blue Eagles played dauntlessly despite nearly finishing last in Season 86. Notably, Ateneo recorded a draw against Philippine Football Federation Women’s League champions Kaya FC-Iloilo and played competitively against Tuloy FC despite the 4-7 outcome.
Ateneo willfully capped off their preseason stint with a total of eight goals on the tally sheet. Spearheading the unit’s commendable showing was rookie and national team member Bicierro, who tallied four goals throughout the tournament. Deemed as underdogs in the competition, their record of one win, one draw, and two losses shows significant promise as the AWFT prepares to embark on Season 87.
Photo by River Elgincolin
Jules: As graduating seniors are set to soon leave the Eagles’ nest, it is undeniable that key cogs in the AWFT’s system would have to undergo a drastic shift in functionality moving forward. However, with the eventual departures of seasoned veterans comes the arrival of tenacious rookies who are committed to propelling the Blue Eagles in their quest for the podium.
From the pool of freshmen, forward Bicierro is primed to become a vital piece in the AWFT’s upcoming UAAP stint, as she notably participated in the 2024 AFC Under-20 Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers. With four goals bagged for the Blue and White last preseason, Bicierro’s capabilities will be a determining factor in the AWFT’s performance in the UAAP field.
Hailing from Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu, Joshper Halili is another formidable athlete who concluded her high school stint as a 2023 Palarong Pambansa champion. A renowned scholar under the Beach Hut program, the Blue Eagle aims to cement her name in the flock with her strong-willed mentality.
Given the inclusion of rookies in the starting XI, the squad’s graduating seniors are determined to reach the pinnacle of the UAAP before singing their final hymn. Team Captain KC Zalamea leads the pack alongside Soleil Schroth, who sat out last Season 86 due to a knee injury. Joining them are veterans and former youth national team members Traci Lim, Gabbie Tuaño, and Joyce Semacio. Their encounters on the collegiate and national stages should instate the AWFT’s framework for a cohesive starting lineup, with players readily equipped to step in and contribute on both ends of the pitch.
From previously deploying an undermanned 18-player team to now fielding a complete 23-woman roster, the Blue and White yearns to channel sheer determination, ardor, and vitality in their kick-off towards a long-awaited victorious campaign.
Reloaded weaponry
Photo by River Elgincolin
Ino: With a team beaming with young talent, the leadership and experience within the Blue Eagles should not be understated, with a mix of holdovers and returnees from injury providing this year’s squad with more firepower to rise up the UAAP ranks.
As mentioned by Jules, skippers Zalamea and Schroth seek to continue building on the foundations laid last season. The former aims to be Ateneo’s midfield talisman, while the latter hopes to marshal a new and improved Blue Eagle defense.
Additionally, assists leader Alferez looks to become a more well-rounded attacker, previously showing off her goal-scoring prowess by nabbing two goals to her name in the UWIL.
Meanwhile, the return of Astrid Ignacio, Andie Avedillo, and national team stalwart Semacio provides the unit from Loyola Heights with much-needed depth and quality. Despite the trio coming off long spells away from the action, the team’s preseason allowed them to gain much-needed fitness and chemistry with the squad.
Throughout the preseason, Ateneo showed intensity and fearlessness with their style of quick passing and intense pressing. The team further seeks to control the game’s tempo with their three central midfielders and overwhelm opposing defenses with three fluid attackers. With a meaningful preseason and the aforementioned increase in depth, this only bodes well for the AWFT given their plethora of options in each position group.
Their attacking mentality is also reflected in their off-ball strategy of aggressively pressing their adversaries. Ateneo’s mix of youth, experience, and energy is certain to pressure opponents into mistakes, setting up opportunities for devastating counter-attacks.
High-pressing teams can be vulnerable at the back, and this is where Ateneo’s defense is trusted to hold the line and deny opposition attacks. The Blue and White’s backline is no slouch to their attacking counterparts either, with Schroth and youth national team member Raya Tolentino projected to be integral parts of the team’s defense. Additionally, the Blue Eagles aim to improve after their Season 86 record of 34 goals conceded, with their clean sheet against Kaya FC serving as a promising start.
With an attack ready to rise to the occasion, a defense intent on proving its worth, and a style that reflects fearlessness and proactivity, Ateneo is slowly becoming a force to be reckoned with in the UAAP field. As Season 87 gears up for kick-off, fans can keep an eye out for a potential renaissance in Loyola Heights.
Upcoming games
Saturday, September 21, at 6:30 PM, vs. University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons at the UP Diliman Football Stadium in Quezon City
Saturday, September 28, at 4:00 PM, vs. Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws at the UP Diliman Football Stadium in Quezon City
