UAAP: Inquig, Castañeda lead La Salle over UP in first round finale

The DLSU Women’s Football Team defeated the UP Lady Maroons, 2-0, yesterday, March 12, at the McKinley Hill Stadium before an energetic crowd. The top two teams of the tournament looked to end the first round of eliminations on a high note, with the highly physical match ending with La Salle on top of the standings at the halfway point of the season.

Even first half

Both teams started the game aggressively in what was an even first half, but it was Kyla Inquig who opened the score line at the seventh minute for La Salle. The striker’s attempt from outside of the box sailed past UP goalkeeper Arriane Javier and towards the top right corner. Inquig now has four goals in as many games for the Green-and-White.

The Lady Maroons immediately responded, as DLSU goalkeeper and team captain Inna Palacios was forced to deny an attempt from Mary Obra and a free kick afterwards. Moments later, rookie striker Shannon Arthur had an opportunity to double the lead for La Salle only for her finesse attempt on goal to be denied.

UP continued to push forward in search of an equalizer and earned multiple free kicks in the process, all of which were denied by La Salle’s defense. Obra came close to tying the game at the 29’ mark but was once again denied by Palacios, who had a busy day in goal for the Green-and-White.

Tightly contested second half 

Javier denied consecutive on goal attempts from rookie Sara Castañeda to open the second half. Both teams carried on their aggression from the first half as the game was played at a frantic pace.

The Lady Maroons came close to getting on the scoreboard at the 53rd minute, but Obra’s header fired just wide of the post. La Salle responded with a bottom corner attempt from winger Chelo Hodges four minutes later, only to be denied by Javier once again.

UP earned a scoring opportunity with a free kick just outside the box, but Monica Manalansan squandered the opportunity as she fired way over the crossbar.

Arthur and Castañeda looked to seal the victory at the 73rd minute, only for the prior to be denied at the near post and the latter to misfire over the woodwork. Two minutes later, Inquig met a cross deep inside the penalty box from winger Nicole Andaya and managed to outdribble the UP defense, only to fire over the woodwork again.

Palacios came away with crucial saves in the final ten minutes of play, as UP virtually controlled the second half in search of an equalizer.

“They didn’t play up to par and [not to] my instructions. The defense and wingers lost focus,” said head coach Hans Smit on La Salle’s performance. “I knew that once I put in the substitutes, something positive would happen.”

Castañeda carried on her scoring spree for La Salle as she doubled the score line and sealed the victory at the 88th minute with a spectacular shot from outside the penalty box. The rookie midfielder now has an impressive five goals in four games.

With the victory, La Salle ends the first round undefeated with a maximum of 12 points in four games.