De La Salle University booked the last ticket to the UAAP Season 86 Women’s Football Final after taking a come-from-behind 3-1 victory over archrival Ateneo de Manila University on Saturday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium.
La Salle’s senior striker Shai del Campo scored the Lady Booters’ leveler in the 52nd minute after Traci Lim’s long shot initially gave Ateneo the lead 11 minutes into the game.
National team midfielder Anicka Castañeda then gave La Salle its first taste of the lead with a tap-in in the 68th minute.
In the end, Chenny Danoso’s strike in the 86th minute wrapped up full points for the Lady Booters.
This is the sixth straight season that La Salle will contest the final and the first in the Alvin Ocampo era.
Despite La Salle’s achievement, Ocampo opted to stay mum when asked about the game, clearly frustrated with how his Lady Booters performed against the Blue Eagles.
La Salle leapfrogged Far Eastern University, which is playing University of Santo Tomas as of publishing, because of a higher goal difference of plus-16 compared to the latter’s plus-15.
The two finalists are on 15 points each.
The final on May 10 will see La Salle and FEU take each other on for all the marbles for the third straight season.
La Salle prevailed 2-0 in the Season 81 final while FEU won 2-1 last Season 85.
Both schools are gunning for its 12th crown.
La Salle and FEU will face each other this Saturday at 6:30 PM at the same venue in a preview of the big dance.
On the other hand, Ateneo remained in fourth place with four points and a minus-22 goal difference.
The Blue Eagles will finish their campaign on May 4 against the Lady Tamaraws at 4:00 PM on the same pitch.
Ateneo XI: Lee (GK), Tuaño, Tolentino, Samonte, Zalamea, Francisco (C), Alferez, Roco, Lim, Napoles, Eval.
DLSU XI: Gumilao (GK), Delos Reyes (C), Isulat, Otom, Layacan, Teves, Mendaño, Del Campo, Goñe, Castañeda, Danoso.
