Lady Booters return to the finals

Karla Pacificador’s second-half goal in a game against the UP Lady Maroons sent the Lady Booters back into the UAAP Women’s Football Tournament Finals as the Green-and-White ladies bagged a, 1-0, win last Feb 10 at Ateneo’s Ocampo Field.

The team finished second out of five squads, behind league-leading FEU in the standings. The latter will duel with the Lady Booters in a best-of-three final.

Securing the spot

After the UST Tigresses fell against the FEU Lady Tamaraws, 0-1, the Lady Booters received a chance to enter the championship if the team could defeat the lackluster UP Lady Maroons.

The Taft-based XI, however, had to enter into the team’s most important game without key striker Chermaine Guancia. The University of St. La Salle-Integrated School alumna was suspended after accumulating two yellow cards in the team’s last two games against FEU and ADMU.

The Lady Booters started the game on offense in an effort to break the UP defense. La Salle’s first chance in the game came in the third minute when left winger Carmela Lizares surged forward before tapping the ball to Monica Henson who had a shot, but was parried by UP’s goalkeeper.

Coach Hans Smit’s girls kept with the attack, but the team’s poor ball retention hindered the team’s bid of cracking a goal.

Ten minutes into the second half, another chance for DLSU in the form of Cristina Viray’s chip shot, which flew a few inches above the crossbar. The Lady Booters then received a lifeline after a Lady Maroon at the edge of the box fouled Pacificador. The graduating player hammered the ball into the back of the net to give La Salle a one-goal advantage in the 74th minute.

“I know that it is within my range, so I am always ready to take it,” claimed Pacificador.

Maintaining the team’s offensive pace, the Lady Booters made a bid for another goal, which did not materialize. The Lady Booters, however, won the match, which signals La Salle’s entry into the championship.

One down, one more to go

For Coach Hans Smit, the team has already accomplished half of its job, which is to finish ahead of UST for the General Championship race. Now, the long-time mentor and his wards are set to fight for DLSU’s eight women’s football title.

Standing on the way of the Lady Booters is the FEU Lady Tamaraws. The two teams both drew their two meetings in the eliminations. There will be no repeat of such in the finals as one team has to beat the other.

Ampil stressed, “We just have to play FEU with the way that we have played them but with better hearts, push and smarts.”

The Lady Booters will face the undefeated Lady Tamaraws at Ateneo’s Ocampo Field. The date of the championship duel has yet to be announced.