The Ateneo Women’s Football Team (AWFT) were once again held to a draw against Far Eastern University (FEU), 1-1, in their first match of the second round in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Women’s Football tournament on February 28, at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila.
The draw against the Lady Tamaraws leaves Ateneo with a 1-2-2 win-draw-loss record in the competition with five points and a goal difference of +0. Ateneo currently sits in fourth place behind league leaders University of Santo Tomas (UST), second-place De La Salle University (DLSU) and FEU.
The Lady Eagles put on the pressure straight from the whistle, aware of the importance of the three points for their season. Defender Cathy Cabrera came close to giving the AWFT the lead in the fifth minute with a free kick that just flew over the crossbar. Forward Martie Bautista and winger Nicole Bugayong also tried their luck on goal, but failed to find the back of the net as well.
Ateneo took the lead after winning a penalty in the 34th minute, which Cabrera calmly converted to draw first blood. Celebrations, however, were short-lived, as FEU answered back via a Jovelle Sudaria free kick mere moments later. The halftime whistle came with both teams level, 1-1.
Straight from the restart, the Blue and White fought tooth and nail to open up a resolute FEU defense, but to no avail. The Lady Tamaraws sent threats when surging forward, with one attack requiring AWFT Goalkeeper Mariane Caparros to rush out of her box to clear. Team Captain Nona Amoncio crafted Ateneo’s best chance to take the lead after finding space on the right flank and launching a ball to three oncoming Lady Eagles, but her support could not find the crucial touch to take it past the keeper.
The match ended, 1-1, leaving Head Coach Jaypee Merida to state that the last three fixtures are “must-win” clashes if the Lady Eagles are to qualify for the finals. Merida will also have much to think about with regard to his starting XI, given that Lady Eagles Icee Calimbo and Tessa Bernardo were both stretchered off after collisions with opposition players.
On the necessary preparations ahead of their next match, Merida pinpointed the Lady Eagles’ need to protect leads and take chances. “We need to [always] protect [our lead] if we’re leading because ‘yun lagi ‘yong problema ng team. We also need to convert our chances kasi hindi lahat mababalik pa sa amin ‘yong chances,” Merida stated.
The Lady Eagles will face off against DLSU on March 3 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila.
Ateneo Starting XI
Caparros (GK), Bugayong, Cabrera, Calimbo, Villaflor, Catedrilla, Diaz, Amoncio (C), Javier, Bautista, Bernardo
Substitutions
78‘ – Soriano on for Calimbo
90‘ – Aniceto on for Bernardo
