National University may have endured one of the toughest campaigns in its young women’s football program, but the Lady Bulldogs are already looking ahead to a brighter future after a difficult debut in the UAAP Season 89 Collegiate Women’s Football Tournament.
NU’s campaign suffered an early blow when the coaching staff was forced to withdraw five players from the roster for failing to meet the league’s residency requirements. Reduced to just 14 available players, the Lady Bulldogs struggled against more experienced competition, dropping all 10 matches without scoring a goal while conceding 34.
Despite the challenging circumstances, NU head coach Ryan Payson expressed pride in his team’s resilience and determination throughout the season.
“For me, first of all, I’m very proud of the girls,” he said.
“Even though we only have 14 on the roster — iilan lang ‘yung subs ko, I only have 12 [outfield players available] — they fought from Round 1 to Round 2. They fought hard. Sabi ko nga sa kanila, kapit lang until the last game. So I’m very proud.”
While a fairytale debut would have made for a compelling storyline, growing pains were inevitable for a program still finding its footing in the collegiate ranks. The Lady Bulldogs struggled on both ends of the pitch, conceding goals while lacking the composure and finishing touch needed to convert their opportunities.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
However, for a young program, enduring difficult losses is part of the process of building character and establishing a competitive foundation. The campaign also provided valuable lessons for both the players and a coaching staff navigating their first UAAP season together.
Payson believes that continued development and experience will eventually allow the Lady Bulldogs to close the gap on the league’s established contenders.
“For me, we will just continue developing as a team, as a group, because every day is a learning experience and every day we are learning. This is my first time handling not just a collegiate team, but a highly competitive competition,” said Payson.
“The girls are all rookies — it’s their first time also playing at a high level. I think we are going to be at level na with the others. I’m not saying winning, I’m not saying losing, but at level. Kasi ‘yun ang gusto natin lahat: a good competition.”
With their maiden UAAP campaign behind them, the Lady Bulldogs can now turn their attention to building a more competitive squad for Season 90. More importantly, NU expects to have a complete roster at its disposal, giving the coaching staff a much-needed boost heading into the next campaign.
“Sabi nga ng coaching staff, be proud of them, kasi kumpleto na kami next season,” said Payson.
Backed by NU’s established athletic program, the Lady Bulldogs are hopeful that a full complement of players and another year of experience will translate into a much stronger showing when they return to the pitch.
