League leaders De La Salle University Lady Archers maintained their mastery over the rest of the field after a 5-0 win against arch-rivals Ateneo de Manila University Lady Eagles.
With a finals ticket already booked, the Lady Archers sought to preserve their momentum today at the Far Eastern University-Diliman Field. Kyra Dimaandal (22′ and 32′) notched a brace, while Niña Arrieta (52′), Kyla Inquig (58′) and Sara Castañeda (70′) added to La Salle’s tally afterwards.
In contrast, this was Ateneo’s fifth straight game without a victory, four of which were defeats.
“That’s the way La Salle plays,” declared Lady Archers coach Hans-Peter Smit. “Like I said I’m never happy but they played good football today.”
Ateneo goalkeeper Marie Caparros was a marked woman right from kickoff, as the Lady Archers relentlessly bombarded her goal. Inquig had a free kick which hit the crossbar, a sign of things to come.
Nearly halfway through the period, the Lady Archers finally broke the deadlock. From a short corner, Ateneo’s defense was caught sleeping when Dimaandal was unmarked to turn in the ball in the 22nd minute.
Dimaandal didn’t have to wait long for her second goal. Castañeda delivered a cross from the right flank, which Dimaandal converted in the 32nd minute. Halftime finally came, and not soon enough for the Lady Eagles, as they were outplayed on the pitch.
Just minutes into the game’s resumption, La Salle got the goal which killed off any chance of an Ateneo comeback. Arrieta unleashed a shot which hit the Ateneo crossbar, as the Lady Eagles failed to clear their lines. From the rebound, Arrieta struck in another in the 52nd minute.
As with their previous wins, Smit’s squad didn’t allow their intensity to drop. In fact, it was the Taft school that played like they were on the losing side. Inquig deservedly got the goal she craved in the 58th minute when she directed her free kick past a helpless Caparros.
Castañeda got La Salle’s fifth of the game when she tapped the ball into the Ateneo net in the 70th minute. The Lady Archers were just too much for the Lady Eagles, as the latter’s hopes for a first finals appearance this season are running out.
Both teams shall face the University of the Philippines in their next game. La Salle (18 points) shall play the defending champions first on April 19, 1:30 PM, while Ateneo (7 points) will play them later on April 23, 3:00 PM, at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila.
“The number one thing here is the fitness and the mentality. Every week I remind them about what happened last year. We should not have a repeat on that. We should never rest on our laurels because we need to prove it first before anything happens,” emphasized Smit.
DLSU XI: Andaya, Arrieta, Castañeda, Dimaandal, Duran, Inquig, Ledesma, Metillo, Navaja, Palacios, Tejada
ADMU XI: Amoncio, Caparros, Catedrilla N, Catedrilla M, Diaz, Esguerra, Ong, Rodriguez, Sabio, Siy, Velasco
