UAAP: DLSU XI outclass UST Lady Booters to clinch third straight victory

The DLSU Women’s Football Team defeated the UST Growling Tigresses, 6-0, on a scorching Sunday afternoon at the McKinley Hill Stadium.

With temperatures rising as high as 38 degrees, DLSU outplayed a hapless UST team, scoring five goals in the second half alone. With their third straight win, they currently top the season standings with nine points.

Contested first half

UST started the match in control of possession but they were hampered by La Salle’s pressing, who in turn played their short passing game after settling down. The Growling Tigresses looked to score on the counter attack, forcing DLSU goalkeeper Inna Palacios to move off her line multiple times.

Consecutive headers on target by Nicole Andaya and Chelo Hodges at the 8th minute were successfully blocked by the UST defense only for La Salle to be awarded a penalty after a handball. Rookie Sara Castañeda blasted the ball towards the right post to give the Green-and-White an early 1-0 lead.

La Salle showed no signs of slowing down as a Shannon Arthur cross from the right wing at the 25’ mark found Castañeda, whose one touch attempt hit the left post. Castañeda managed to get a rebound off her own attempt only to be denied by UST goalkeeper Nicole Reyes. Kyla Inquig managed to get an attempt off a second rebound in the same play as her shot bounced off the near post to go out for a goal kick.

The Green-and-White came close to scoring again as a Christine Duran long shot from the right wing bounced off the woodwork for another UST goal kick. Moments later, Hazel Lustan managed to dribble past Palacios off a counter attack at the 42nd minute only to be denied by Regine Metillo, who backstopped La Salle’s defensive line.

Strong second half play

After ending the first half in a tentative manner, La Salle started the second half with more aggression. “We were tired in the first half, we’re not used to playing at this time [early afternoon]. We just had to suck it up and play harder than them,” Arthur said on playing under the heat.

A Chelo Hodges cross found Arthur as she doubled the lead for the Green-and-White at the 53rd minute as Reyes spilled her shot on goal taken from just outside the six-yard box.

Four minutes later, Inquig rebounded her own attempt that was initially saved by Reyes to extend La Salle’s lead, 3-0. Charissa Lemorzan and Jennizel Cabalan looked to put UST on the scoreboard, only for the prior’s lob to go over the crossbar and the latter’s attempt to be saved by Palacios.

Castañeda continued her scoring spree as she struck her second goal of the game from way beyond the penalty area to push La Salle’s lead to 4-0 at the 78’ mark. The rookie midfielder now has four goals in three games so far in the season.

“Coach Hans [Smit] just kept telling me that I had a couple of chances that I didn’t take in the first half so he told me to just [take them],” said Castañeda.

Arthur and substitute Kyra Dimaandal carried on the offensive arsenal for the Green-and-White with goals at the 80th and 86th minute, respectively, to cap off the crushing of the España-based team.

Up next for the DLSU Women’s XI will be the UP Lady Maroons on Saturday, March 12, at 4 pm at the McKinley Hill Stadium.