The DLSU Lady Booters stumbled on their bid for a flawless Round One standing as they failed to hold down defending champions FEU Lady Tamaraws, 2-1, earlier tonight, October 4, at the UP Diliman Football Pitch.
Despite the defeat, Maegan Alforque provided a bright spot for the Lady Booters, netting their lone goal in the 31st minute.
However Lady Tamaraw Marienell Cristobal converted a penalty, while Angel Egay snatched a late second-half goal, preserving their long-standing reign over the Green-and-White since the UAAP’s return after the pandemic.
Escaping the tight defense
Tension filled the air at the start of the match, echoing the atmosphere of a Season 87 finals rematch, as both teams wasted no time putting up their defensive schemes and pushing the pace. Lady Tamaraws were the first to launch an early surge while simultaneously holding firm against the Lady Booters’ attempts to control possession in the opening minutes. The green shirts were able to plot a chance soon after, but got entangled in a game of cat-and-mouse as they found themselves scurrying over to recover stolen balls.
In what seemed to be the game’s first breather, DLSU’s Dani Tanjangco had her sights set on a potential 1-0 lead, but was left toppled to the ground by three FEU defenders before she could even make the conversion. A series of throw-ins, footraces, and an unsuccessful FEU free kick consumed much of the first half. Breath-stopping moments also came for the Taft-based squad as their opponents nearly capitalized on two corner kicks.
DLSU’s relentless push was finally rewarded in the 31st minute as Megan Alforque took charge and scored the team’s sole goal. Three other openings and a free kick would then be made available for the Green-and-White, but they were thwarted by either an offside call or a foul, as well as the hands of FEU goalkeeper Jessa Lehayan.
The complexion of the match would shift significantly as Elisha Lubiano conceded a costly foul inside the penalty area, earning a yellow card and handing FEU a penalty. Cristobal converted from the spot to level the match at 1-all, just a minute shy of the halftime whistle.
Deterrent finesse
All momentum shifted as the rivals entered the second half on even ground. FEU controlled possession early on, with forward Regine Rebosura pressing down the touchline to seize a chance, but to no avail. The reigning champions pushed for every opportunity to break the deadlock, however the Lady Booters’ defensive grit shut down their advances in the outfield, leaving Jessica Pido largely untroubled in the box.
Tackles and chaos became as much a feature of the match as both squads pushed for the go-ahead strike. The Lady Booters bore the brunt of it, ultimately leading to Team Captain Stephanie Goñe being stretchered off after absorbing a blow. Playing with one woman down for several tense minutes, DLSU saw wing-back Kia Balateria rejoin the pitch through the halfway line. But before the Taft-based squad could even regroup, Egay delivered a decisive strike in the 80th minute, finally converting FEU’s persistent pressure into a lead.
La Salle scrambled to find an equalizer, but FEU’s defense proved relentless. Judie Arevalo became a commanding figure for FEU in the outfield, orchestrating assists and sending shots forward, pushing the Lady Booters to their limits.
With seven minutes of added time, both squads brought in fresh legs, each with opposing goals: to widen the gap or force a draw. Pido found herself under increasing pressure as the match intensified in the final third. Chenny Dañoso sparked hope for the Lasallians with a last-minute free kick, but the Tamaraws reacted swiftly, blocking the attempt and every little chance right after. The match ended at 2-1, extending the Lady Booters’ curse-like losing streak against FEU since Season 81.
Despite the setback, the Lady Booters hold onto their second-seed spot with a 3-1 win-loss record, ending the first round with nine points. Last season’s Rookie of the Year and rising team presence Dani Tanjangco reflected on the journey ahead: “We [will] keep trying, and this is [just] the first game. This is the first round. We’re going to work harder for the second [round] for sure,” Tanjangco hopefully states, while the Lasallian community awaits for the next scheduled matches.
