DOMINATION.
Leaving behind the stigma of their Season 69 finals defeat, the UST Lady Booters mauled all opposition to stay unscathed in their 7th Metro Manila Girls Football Association campaign.
The Season 69 bridesmaids carved out an impressive 6.6 percent average winning margin to get to a 4-0-1 win-loss-draw record in the tournament.
Parading their UAAP game-face in imposing fashion, the Lady Booters blanked the Ateneo de Manila, 2-0, last October 14 at the De La Salle-Zobel football field.
Hounded by the Ateneo’s tight first half marking, Lady Booter Mary Ignacio reaped payback in the opening minute of the second half, uncorking a powerful strike to put the Lady Booters on top, 1-0.
A moment later in the 47th minute, Ignacio slotted home a second goal off an assist by Patricia Perlas.
The Lady Booters’ defense then took care of business in the ensuing plays, repulsing wave after wave of the Ateneo’s desperation heaves to seal the deal.
“The team is starting to show the tenacity to overcome any challenges,” coach Jade Bejemino told the Varsitarian.
Steamrolling the opposition
Prior to the Ateneo match, the Lady Booters strung up no-brainer victories against hapless squads. The first was a 7-0 drubbing of the Alumnae Football Club of former collegiate player last October 7. The other, a 17-0 shellacking of Assumption College last September 30.
UST creamed the University of the Philippines (UP) Los Baños, 10-0, last September 23 to nail its first win.
Previously, the Lady Booters essayed a hard-fought 2-2 draw in their opening match against UP Diliman last September 9 at the De La Salle-Zobel field.
Despite unleashing a furious offensive in the latter stages of the match, the Lady Booters failed to produce the marginal goal.
But if the Lady Booters’ performance in the tournament is to be gauged, Bejemino said the team is ready for the UAAP wars.
“Overall, I believe the team has improved vastly from last year. And with this, I can say that we are ready to claim the title come UAAP time.”
