The Ateneo de Manila University Lady Eagles wrapped up their UAAP Season 78 Women’s Football Tournament campaign in style over the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigresses Saturday night (April 23, 2016) at the McKinley Hill Stadium in Taguig. After ninety minutes, the Lady Eagles prevailed 4-1, against the Growling Tigresses with all goals occurring in the second half.
Ateneo went goal-crazy for five minutes in the second half. Lady Eagles substitute Maria Teresa Bernardo recorded a brace (71′ & 73′) while Martie Bautisa scored the third goal (75′) just a couple of minutes later. Another substitute, Nona Amoncio added a fourth goal (83′) to cap things off for the Lady Eagles. On the other hand, Mae Cadag (85′) pulled a consolation goal back just before fulltime.
Once the game kicked off, though, it was UST who started better between the two. Ateneo goalkeeper Marie Caparros was forced to make a save by Nina Acuna. Acuna was then played through by Cadag, but she shot wide.
Those opening moments proved to be the wake-up call the Lady Eagles needed to impose themselves in the game. It was very much an even game as both schools were looking to end their campaigns on a high note. Similar to Caparros, though, UST goalkeeper Ivy Lopez easily dealt with whatever Ateneo conjured against her. Lopez made routine stops against Fiona Faulkner, Bernardo and Anne Martin. It would prove to be a catalyst for Ateneo as, a UST counterattack aside, they finished the stronger team before the break. Nevertheless, the game was still goalless at halftime.
It was very much a case of deja’ vu after the break as UST started off stronger once again. Caparros was forced to rush out of her area to thwart Cadag while center-back Chanda Solite shot her free kick wide a few moments later. Solite then had another go via a free kick, but her attempt was easily caught by Caparros.
At the other end, it was another slow start for Ateneo. The Lady Eagles were only able to threaten the Growling Tigresses via indirect free kicks which were easily cleared by the latter. Only an Annika Ong shot easily caught by Lopez displayed Ateneo’s capability to create from open play. In fairness to the Lady Eagles, though, they were get going as the game went on. Ateneo should have had the first goal when Bautista penetrated the UST box from the left flank and unleashed a shot which hit the bottom right post. The rebound fell towards Martin who was onside, only for her to squander the shot.
Both teams had equal amounts of possession halfway through the second half and it was inevitable that the first team who concedes will open the flood gates for the other. UST came close when a scramble ensued in Ateneo’s box, yet Caparros somehow managed to get hold of the ball. UST Substitute Jennizal Cabalan was then through on goal and Caparros almost committed an error when she rushed out too early, but her defenders covered for her and prevented the Tigresses from scoring.
With twenty minutes left, Bautista came alive to provide an outlet for the Lady Eagles. Bautista forced a good save from Lopez. The Lady Eagles finally scored the goal they and the match deserved at the 71st minute when Bernardo turned the ball in after a scramble in the Growling Tigresses box. Ateneo didn’t have to wait long for their second goal as Bernardo scored at the 73rd minute when her shot somehow crawled into the UST net.
Bautista ended the contest at the 75th minute when her shot inside the UST box proved unsaveable for Lopez. The goalkeeper though, denied Bautista another goal with a fine save. Nonetheless, Ateneo weren’t to be denied a fourth goal when Amoncio put in one past Lopez at the 83rd minute. The Lady Eagles were overjoyed with the four goals. Not even Cadag’s consolation goal, via a corner, at the 85th minute could dampen their mood. In the end, the game finished 4-1, in favor of Ateneo over UST.
Due to the three-goal margin which elevated them over Far Eastern University, Ateneo finished at 3rd place with 9 points. On the other hand, UST had to make do with 5th place and 4 points. Ateneo assistant coach Gely Tiu had this to say after the game, “Third was our minimum really. To reach third that’s good but we knew (the players) can make it to the finals and it was just probably a lot of things, a lot of factors that went wrong or not in our direction that caused us to make it till third but then at that rate we were still barely for third. It was a really emotional roller coaster for us.”
