THE ATENEO Blue Eagles ended their University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87 Women’s Football tournament campaign on a low note as they suffered a 7-1 thumping from the Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws. The Blue and White’s final game of the season took place earlier today at the UP Diliman Football Stadium in Quezon City.
The loss puts the Blue Eagles at a 1-1-6 win-draw-loss record, cementing their fifth-place finish in the league’s standings.
In an undeniably busy game for the Blue and White defense, goalkeeper Chelssy Casals stood out the most, making crucial saves to keep the Lady Tamaraws at bay for as long as possible. Despite the defeat, Angely Alferez proved why she was Ateneo’s talisman throughout the season, notching the team’s only goal of the game.
The start of the game was marked by the Blue Eagles being pinned back in their own half, weathering FEU’s early aggression in attack and dominance in possession. The first sign of danger came off a cross from Lady Tamaraw Dionesa Tolentin which whipped into the box, but the Blue Eagle defense managed to stomp it out.
The Morayta-based unit found a breakthrough via a looping header from FEU’s Angel Egay, putting Ateneo behind early in the seventh minute, 0-1. The reeling Blue Eagles were then pounced on again by FEU just two minutes later, as a well-rehearsed team goal increased the gap courtesy of Althea Rebosura, completing the quickfire double, 0-2.
Casals was then able to make an important save as she denied Egay’s one-on-one attempt in the 17th minute. She was once again called to action almost immediately, saving a long-range attempt and a direct free kick five minutes later.
Despite Casals’ heroics, her desperate bid to smother an FEU set piece in the 33rd minute backfired, allowing Dhrea Duran to loop her shot into the top right corner, 0-3. FEU then dealt a further blow to the Blue Eagles in the 37th minute, with Carmela Altiche scoring off an incisive counter-attack to put Ateneo at a 0-4 disadvantage.
In the 41st minute, Patty Fransisco made an important clearance off the line while Casals stopped Egay’s point-blank effort to keep FEU at bay. Two minutes later, Ateneo conceded a penalty, and Tolentin was able to outsmart Casals to increase the hole, 0-5. Tolentin then secured her brace in the second minute of stoppage time with a deftly placed shot to put FEU up 6-0.
The Blue Eagles started the second half off by looking to assert themselves offensively, with a creative set piece routine almost leading to an Alferez goal in the 47th minute. She finally put one past FEU in the 54th minute with a well-placed header into the back of the net, 1-6.
Ateneo continued to fend off FEU’s advances, converting well-timed clearances, tackles, and interceptions into dangerous counter-attacks. With momentum slowly creeping to the side of the Blue and White, FEU’s Tolentin tried to restore order with her chip shot outside the box in the 57th minute, but Casals was able to collect it safely.
Continuing to press for further advantages, Ateneo’s corner routines continued to be a thorn on FEU’s side as Tootchie Eval found herself free, but her shot went wide of the post. A minute later, Jada Bicierro almost converted her chance after finding herself through on goal but failed. Maintaining Ateneo’s groove throughout the period, Raya Tolentino’s clean tackle prevented FEU from getting their seventh.
With ten minutes left in the half, a cross from FEU proved dangerous after Casals was caught out of position, but the resulting shots from Egay were cleared out safely by the Ateneo defense. With two minutes left in the game, FEU put the final nail in Ateneo’s coffin as Egay secured her brace, giving Ateneo their sixth and final defeat of Season 87, 1-7.
Following the game, the Katipunan-based squad finished Season 87 in fifth place. The team scored four goals while conceding 20, for a goal difference of -16. Despite the disappointing result, the team looks to grow from these experiences and come back stronger by Season 88.
Starting XI:
Ateneo (1): Casals (GK), Alferez, Eval, Francisco, Halili, Ignacio, Lim, Napoles, Schroth, Tolentino, Zalamea (C)
FEU (7): Artillo (GK), Albiño, Altiche, Colina, Trinidad, Doctor, Duran, Egay, Rebosura, Soriano, Tolentin
Current Standings – Points (Goal Difference):
- FEU Lady Tamaraws – 22 (+20)
- DLSU Lady Booters– 14 (+6)
- UST Lady Booters – 8 (-1)
- UP Fighting Maroons – 8 (-9)
- ATENEO Blue Eagles – 4 (-16)
