With how small the margin of error is in the UAAP Season 80 Women’s Football Tournament, every point counts
The De La Salle University Lady Archers clinched their second win of the season as they eked out a 1-0 victory over the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws, Saturday morning at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila.
“That’s not my team, period,” commented La Salle coach Hans-Peter Smit. “They played better in the second half but that’s still not my team. They’re so far from what they’ve been doing in the other year.”
La Salle and FEU shot blanks in the opening 45 minutes. Lady Tamaraws goalie Kim Parina warded off Irish Navaja’s freekick and Chelo Hodges’ strike. At the other end, Lady Archers goalkeeper Natasha Lacson deflected Jovelle Sudaria’s free kick, while Bia Requerme saw her attempt hit the side-netting.
There was also an unsavory incident that, thankfully, did not escalate into something worse in the first half. A minor scuffle ensued when Jean Kadil pushed a La Salle player down, but student-athletes from both sides immediately prevented the situation from getting worse. Kadil, though, was handed a yellow card for her transgression.
Upon the game’s resumption, it was the Lady Archers who drew first blood. Kyla Inquig crossed the ball from the right side of the Lady Tamaraws box, and her cross was headed in by Nicole Andaya in the 49th minute.
The game opened up a litte bit more after Andaya’s goal. Sudaria had an attempt which went narrowly over the La Salle bar, while Lady Archers captain Kyra Dimaandal should have done better with the goal at her mercy, as her attempt was easily caught by Parina.
In the end, La Salle held on for the narrow 1-0 victory, which puts the Lady Archers back on track after their Ash Wednesday loss at the hands of the University of Santo Tomas Lady Booters.
“All (the players) need to do is to play their game. They haven’t gotten into their game yet. Hopefully, little by little. We need the three points always every game. In the UST game it was very obvious they were out of sync. They still haven’t gotten into their regular groove, the way La Salle is supposed to play,” added Smit.
On the other hand, FEU drop points for the second time this season following their goalless draw versus the Ateneo de Manila University three days ago.
The two teams shall next play on February 24 at Rizal Memorial. FEU will face the University of the Philippines Lady Maroons in the 9:00 AM game, while La Salle will go up against archrivals Ateneo Lady Eagles afterwards at 3:00 PM.
