By: Nicole Parallag
For the first time in over a decade, Ateneo de Manila University finally snapped its long drought against archrival De La Salle University, prevailing 1–0 in the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Women’s Football Tournament on Saturday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium in Quezon City.
The Blue Eagles last saw victory over the Lady Booters in Season 77 on December 14, 2014 — a 2-0 shutout courtesy of goals from Anne Martin and Camille Rodriguez.
This time, they ended a 15-game losing streak that stretched from Season 78 until the first round of Season 88.
Celina Salazar proved decisive, breaking the deadlock in the 27th minute.
The 20-year-old Cebuana freshman tapped in a precise pass from teammate Jada Bicierro, registering her second goal of the campaign.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“She’s a promising rookie,” said coach Bob Manlulo of Salazar. “Definitely, in the next maybe three or four years, she’ll be a great asset too, not only to the UAAP football program, but also to the national team. I think she has the quality.”
Aside from Salazar’s heroics, goalkeeper Chelssy Casals stole the show with a stellar performance, securing her first clean sheet of the season against the Lady Booters.
La Salle’s winger Jodie Banzon tried to pull one back in the 40th minute with a free kick but failed to convert.
The Lady Booters struggled to generate offense in the latter stages, as Ateneo effectively repelled every attacking sequence in the final third.
The win kept Ateneo’s finals hopes alive, boosting them to third place with 11 points and a -2 goal difference.
“Defense-wise, I instructed my defensive line to keep holding and try to keep on denying all through-ball passes and mark all open players before they could receive the ball. We were able to successfully stop all direct passes of La Salle,” said Manlulo.
Ateneo will aim to carry its momentum into its final match of the season against Far Eastern University on November 8 at 4:00 PM, again at the UP Diliman pitch.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Meanwhile, the Lady Booters remain just above the Blue Eagles in the standings, holding second place with 12 points and a +4 goal difference.
La Salle will be hoping for a comeback when it faces FEU on November 5 at 6:30 PM on the same pitch.
