The DLSU Lady Booters improved to a flawless 3-0 record after a commanding performance over the UST Golden Tigresses, 5-1, earlier tonight, March 9, at the UP Diliman Football Pitch.
Veteran forward Shai Del Campo took home the Player of the Game award, just one goal shy of a hat trick, with her constant threat always looming over the team from España. TJ Isulat, Anicka Castañeda, and Bea Delos Reyes also chipped in a goal each in the triumph over the Golden Tigresses.
Staying resilient
Coming into the match as heavy favorites, the Lady Booters took control of the lion’s share of possession from the first kick of the game. La Salle nearly took an early lead in the fifth minute when Del Campo found space inside the box, but her shot from the right was narrowly saved by the legs of UST goalkeeper Maria Gerona. The Golden Tigresses then launched a furious counterattack that led to striker Christy Logastua finding space between the DLSU center backs and striking UST in the lead, 1-0, in the sixth minute.
The Taft-based squad recovered and held most of the momentum with the majority of the play happening in the España side’s half. The Green-and-White had a chance to equalize the game in the 10th minute when Del Campo drove down the right wing and found Mari Layacan inside the box, however, the Lady Booters leading scorer skied the shot. The breakthrough finally came in the 29th minute when Samantha Toledo’s freekick from outside the box was spilled by goalie Gerona which Isulat took advantage of by slotting in the rebound to equalize at 1-all.
Layacan then started finding success against UST defender Jannah Santerva on the right wing. The forward found Del Campo in the middle of the box on consecutive plays with dazzling dribbling displays. The second occasion led to the veteran striker receiving the low cross and finding the bottom corner in the 38th minute, giving the Lady Booters their first lead of the match, 2-1. The Green-and-White continued creating chances for the rest of the first period but they were unable to find the cutting edge to break the game open as La Salle headed into the halftime break with a slim one-goal advantage.
Pressing down their necks
The DLSU Lady Booters picked up the second half of the match where they left it off as they hogged the possession of the ball to give themselves chances to build up another goal to extend their lead. Del Campo also continued to cause problems for the UST defenders as she spearheaded the offense for the Golden Tigresses. At the 51st minute, Castañeda extended the Lasallian cushion to two as she elegantly volleys a corner kick into the UST net, 3-1.
Despite the comfortable lead, the Lady Booters did not take their foot off the gas pedal as they pressured the Golden Tigresses and got inside their box to raise alarm bells. They got their breakthrough in the 53rd minute as Del Campo was fouled inside the box as the referee gave the penalty. Delos Reyes took the penalty for the Lady Booters and smashed it in just over the middle to extend the lead to three, 4-1.
With a three-goal cushion and the victory awaiting, the Lady Booters remained unsatisfied. Their high press once again gave them a breakthrough. With Castañeda in control of the ball in the final third, the holding midfielder who has been composed all game gave a wonderful through ball for Del Campo to give the forward her second goal and a four-goal lead, 5-1. The Lady Booters hunted for a fifth with the Lasallians maintaining their gameplay, but the final whistle blew with the final score in favor of the Green-and-White, 5-1.
La Salle Head Coach Alvin Ocampo commended his team’s response after going a goal down early. He shared that the UST goal “woke them up. They were able to bounce back from a slow start with their adjustments and confidence on the ball.”
The Lady Booters will look to complete a first-round sweep when they face the defending champions FEU Lady Tamaraws on Saturday, March 16, at 6:30 pm, at the same venue.
