The DLSU Lady Booters bagged their first win of the season by defeating the ADMU Lady Eagles in a dominating fashion, 3-0, earlier today, March 18, at the UP Diliman Football Pitch.
DLSU midfielder Angelica Teves scored a brace while Maye Mendaño added a goal of her own to secure the squad’s first victory in their third game.
Pressing the issue
Hunting for revenge after consecutive losses, the Lady Booters came out of the gates aggressive. With tight passes and excellent positioning, they were able to take control of the game in the opening minutes. The aggressiveness enabled DLSU to gain scoring opportunities up front. However, early attempts by Maria Layacan and Tejanee Isulat were thwarted by the Ateneo backline. Attempting to fight back, the Blue Eagles tried to build momentum but were turned back by the steadfast La Salle defense.
Pushing the ball towards the offensive end, the Taft-based squad stayed hungry and continued to fight for the opener, but attempts by Mendaño and Layacan around the 10-minute mark failed to go on target. The Green and White were able to find chances inside the box, enabling their offense through Layacan’s excellent control over the right wing.
DLSU’s aggressive play wore the opposition down as an eager Ateneo defense eventually handed the Lady Booters with a penalty that Teves iced to score the opener, 1-0.
Continuing to push the ball forward, the La Salle offense flourished from the right wing as the passing combination between Tenelyn Otom and Layacan kept the Katipunan-based squad’s defense on their toes. A flurry of crosses into the box gave La Salle several more chances in the closing minutes of the half, but Ateneo goalkeeper Adrielle Lee forced stops to leave DLSU leading at halftime, 1-0.
Unrelenting Aggression
Coach Hans-Peter Smit’s squad came out of the break sticking to the game plan and expertly maintaining possession, but several attempts in the opening minutes of the second half by Teves and Layacan were stopped by Lee. In the attempt to even out the scoreline, Ateneo shortly tried their hand at counter-attacking until the DLSU backline quickly turned them back.
Staying composed in the midfield, La Salle continued to keep the Blue Eagles on the back foot as a powerful strike from Medano at the 63-minute mark added to her side’s lead, 2-0
Maintaining their rhythm, the Taft-based squad exerted their dominance as they continued to control the pace of the game. Substitute striker Alisha del Campo immediately made her presence felt as she pressured the Ateneo defense and attempted another shot.
Not budging an inch, La Salle hogged possession, constantly looking to charge into the offensive third. Their aggression forced Ateneo to commit another mistake as a foul inside the box gifted Teves another penalty and brought the Lady Booters up 3-0.
Late in the half, Ateneo was able to string several possessions together and press the La Salle defense, but fatigue and an imposing La Salle backrow proved their efforts futile. Trying to add to the tally, strikers MJ Villacin and Del Campo each tried to land a fourth goal into the back of the net but Lee halted these attempts and kept the score at 3-0 until the final whistle.
After this win, the DLSU Lady Booters will look to pick up their momentum in their UAAP Season 85 campaign as they go against the FEU Lady Tamaraws next on March 25, Saturday, at the same venue.
