THE ATENEO Women’s Football Team (AWFT) have yet to bring home their first win in University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 85 Women’s Football Tournament after dropping the game against the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons, 0-2. The match was held earlier today at the UP Diliman Football Field. Today’s match result brings the Blue and White’s win-loss record to 0-2.
The beginning of the match marked a difficult stretch for Ateneo as they struggled to penetrate through UP’s defensive gambits. Missteps from the Blue Eagles also gave their opponents numerous opportunities to close in on the posts.
Ateneo then received the short end of the stick after Aurea Reaso’s goal at the 19-minute mark, 0-1. Despite their best efforts to regain possession over the ball, the Blue and White closed off the first half of the match at a 0-2 disadvantage as a result of a UP goal at the first minute of stoppage time, courtesy of Kamea Manrobang.
[First Half]
— Luis Antonio Licas (@Luis_TheGUIDON) March 4, 2023
17' – UP draws first blood off a clean shot from just outside the box.
Ateneo 0 UP 1@TheGUIDONSports #UAAPFootball pic.twitter.com/dsWWsfWwpi
Strong footwork from the Fighting Maroons continued to be a challenge for the Blue Eagles in the second half. Although UP kept up their offensive maneuvers toward the goal, Ateneo goalkeeper Adrielle Lee fought back with crucial and last-minute saves.
[Second Half]
— Luis Antonio Licas (@Luis_TheGUIDON) March 4, 2023
66' – Lee comes up with another save following UP's free-kick.
Ateneo 0 UP 2#UAAPFootball pic.twitter.com/LtJYmIkA5p
Composed shots from the arc by attacking midfielder Kassandra Zalamea and defender Patricia Francisco gave Ateneo hopes of trimming down the lead at the 60-minute mark. However, their opponents were quick when it came to shutting down the Blue Eagles’ offensive tactics.
Although the Blue and White fought hard to paint the second half of the bout with composed passes and shots, the match came to an end with the Blue Eagles sustaining a loss to the Fighting Maroons, 0-2.
Defender Traci Lim acknowledged that their game against FEU last week played a big role in their performance during today’s match. Despite this, she shared that they are ready to bounce back from their loss in their next bout against archrivals De La Salle University (DLSU). “I think from now, [the team] will focus on regrouping, rewatching their mistakes, and building up from that,” she shared.
The AWFT will now look to face the DLSU Lady Booters next Saturday, March 18, at 6:00 PM in the UP Diliman Football Field.
