THE ATENEO Blue Eagles bested the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons with a 1-0 stunner in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Women’s Football Tournament. The match was held earlier today, October 1, at the Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub, Cavite.
Following the results of the match, the Ateneo Women’s Football Team (AWFT) now holds a 1-0-2 win-draw-loss record with a -4 goal difference to settle in fourth place in the standings.
From the opening whistle, the Blue Eagles focused on aggressively pressing the Fighting Maroons to limit the opposition’s offense. To Ateneo’s advantage, forward Angely Alferez immediately connected with Soleil Schroth within UP’s defending third for a chance at an early goal, but the co-captain narrowly missed her shot.
In response, the Maroon and Green challenged the AWFT’s defense, leading to a shot on target for Kylle Moreno at the 6th minute. However, goalkeeper Chelssy Casals quickly contained the attempt. Fighting Maroon Jazi Borra then gained an opportunity in the 10th minute, but Atenean veteran Joshper Halili deflected the ball to keep the scoreline even.
The Katipunan rivals then traded time on the ball during the middle third of the half, highlighted by Celina Salazar’s close call shot that hit the crossbar at the 16th minute. Later on, Alferez maneuvered through the UP defenders in hopes of a shot, but Shanile Marqueses marked down the forward to ultimately deny the Blue Eagles their first goal.
Adamant to gain points on the board, Blue and White veteran Patty Francisco aimed for a long-ranged pass towards Jada Bicierro at the 24th minute, only to be anticipated by UP’s Mariel Sancho. Still exchanging ball possession, Schroth capitalized once again on the Diliman-based team’s disorganized defense, however skying above the crossbar.
Entering the final minutes of the half, Bicierro sent a cross towards Captain KC Zalamea, earning a corner shot after Borra interfered with the skipper’s attempt. Striking the ball towards Francisco on the left flank, the veteran defender was denied by UP from scoring a goal, thus ending the half scoreless despite added time.
Eager to break the ice, Ateneo welcomed the second half focusing on their defense to decrease the opposition’s shot advantage. In the 49th and 53rd minute, Blue Eagle veteran Tootchie Eval’s consecutive blocks solidified these high press defensive measures.
Bolstering the defensive efforts to gain upper hand, veteran forward Bicierro fronted an aggressive offensive strategy. As Bicierro became the forefront of Ateneo’s offense line, her extensive drive for the goal consequently banked Ateneo’s first advantage of the match in the 53rd minute, 1-0.
Carrying this newfound confidence, the Blue Eagles delivered more productive possessions in the succeeding sequences to increase scoring opportunities. Driving this force were Schroth, Alferez, and Eval, who kept the ball in Ateneo possession. By the 69th minute, rookie Celina Salazar, Bicierro, and Francisco translated the defensive driving force into offensive attempts at close range.
On the other end of the field, Casals remained steady in the defensive territory of Ateneo by cutting the attempts of their Katipunan rivals short. Her consecutive heroic saves pressured UP’s offensive tactics, which secured the 1-0 advantage for the Blue Eagles at stoppage time.
The extended minutes saw the Fighting Maroons continue to attempt for an equalizer. However, the Blue Eagles’ unwavering energy challenged their offensive execution—handing Ateneo their first win of the season by the closing whistle.
Hoping to sustain their winning momentum, Ateneo looks to seal another success in their next match against the University of Santo Tomas, 4:00 PM, Saturday, October 4, at the UP Diliman Football Stadium.
Starting XI:
Ateneo (1): Casals (GK), Zalamea (C), Schroth, Alferez, Salazar, Halili, Bicierro, Eval, Francisco, Tolentino, Ramos
UP (0): Sancho (GK), Borra (C), Narido, Miranda, Marqueses, Dizon, Moreno, Calope, Tundag, Garido, Estember
Standings – Points (Goal Difference):
- FEU Lady Tamaraws – 9 (+9)
- DLSU Lady Booters – 9 (+4)
- UST Lady Booters – 3 (-1)
- ATENEO Blue Eagles – 3 (-4)
- UP Fighting Maroons – 0 (-8)
