The three game winning streak of the DLSU Women’s Football Team came to an end as it suffered a tough loss against the UST Golden Tigresses, 5-2, earlier today at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium. Charisa Lemoran and Shelah Cadag each bagged a brace while Mary Joy Indac added another one to complete the rout and catapult UST to the top of the standings. “They came prepared,” assistant coach Alvin Ocampo shared after the match.
La Salle scored two consolation goals towards the end of the match as Shannon Arthur got her third goal of the season while Kyla Inquig found the back of the net at the 90’+3 mark of the match.
Close half
Following their 1-0 win over the defending champions on Valentine’s Day, the Golden Tigresses started the match with a lot of energy and were hogging most of the possession. Tashka Lacson was tested early on as Cadag produced two quick chances five minutes into the game. The DLSU goalkeeper fumbled Cadag’s second shot attempt but Thea Concepcion was the first one to react to the loose ball and decided to send it outside for a corner kick.
Lemoran finally broke the deadlock in the 21st minute as she scored a wonderful solo goal. She slithered inside the box as she beat three defenders and the goalkeeper en route to the match’s first goal. Despite opening the scoring with Lemoran’s goal, UST continued to search for another one with Hazel Lustan and Cadag leading the way. The latter hit the bar while the former attempted a shot outside the box but it went straight at Lacson.
DLSU tried to answer back as Kyra Dimaandal generated a fantastic through ball for Arantxa Del Mundo but Nicole Reyes, UST’s goalkeeper, reacted quickly and went out of her position to kick the ball away for a throw-in. A few minutes later, Inquig’s free kick hit the bar and Dimaandal tried to score off the rebound but her header was caught by the keeper. Just before the first half ended, Mariell Tejada connected with Janna Barcemo’s corner but her volley went wide for a goal kick.
Goal fest
The second half started with Indac scoring a header from close range. In the 47th minute, Lacson was able to block the Golden Tigresses’ initial attempt but it was Indac who reacted swiftly to pounce on the rebound. Two minutes later, Arthur attempted a shot outside the box but it just went wide for a goal kick.
At the 52’ mark of the game, Cadag was able to chip Lacson to give UST their third goal of the game. The winger did not stop there as her left-footed shot four minutes later was just pushed out by Lacson for a corner. The dead ball situation allowed the Green-and-White the opportunity to mix things up as Christina Montelibano and Carmen Castellanos came in for Dimaandal and Barcemo.
The substitutions did not faze the Golden Tigresses as Cadag completed her brace in the 79th minute to give UST a 4-0 lead. With a massive four goal lead at hand, it gave UST the chance to change goalkeepers and let Thea Sumilang see off the game. It quickly backfired with Arthur scoring from way out to cut the deficit in the 86th minute.
When asked about the late game switch of goalkeepers, Ocampo said, “Actually, with the game at hand at 4-0, you get the liberty to play all your players eh. That’s what UST did, fielding in the second stringers to give them a chance to play.”
The Golden Tigresses responded with their own long distance goal courtesy of Lemoran in the first minute of added time. The Lasallians were able to grab another goal two minutes later as Inquig curled one in to make it 5-2 at the final whistle.
The team will look to bounce back and get their fifth win this season as they go up against the UP Lady Maroons on Wednesday, March 14, 3 pm at the same venue.
