NOT EVEN a freak loss could dampen the UST Lady Booters’ fighting spirit.
Instead of licking their wounds, the Lady Booters turned their dismay into instant motivation as they posted a ruthless 13-0 thumping of the hapless San Beda Collage (SBC) team to remain unscathed in the inaugural staging of the Philippine Football Federation (PFF)-Ang Liga Filipina Football Cup last Nov. 9 at the UST football field.
After suffering their first off-season setback at the hands of UAAP rival De La Salle University (La Sale) in the Metro Manila Girls Football Association (MMGFA), the Lady Booters rode on the game-long brilliance of veteran Joyce Landagan and Priscilla Rubio, who each scored a hat trick, to give UST its third straight victory in as many games.
“So far, our record in the Ang Liga tournament only shows that we are on the right track toward a banner year in the UAAP,” coach Jade Bejemino told the Varsitarian.
Exploiting San Beda’s lackluster defense, the Lady Booters coasted to a 10-0 lead bridging the first and second half. During that span, Rubio and Landagan teamed up in a vicious attacking game highlighted by their string of goals in the 19th, 26th, 48th, 52nd, 59th, and 71st minutes that virtually sealed the outcome for UST.
The win served as a fitting follow-up to the Lady Booters’ 10-0 thrashing of the Nomadz Football Club in their second Ang Liga Filipina outing last Oct. 17 at the UST football field.
Armed with a relentless attacking game despite the absence of striker Mary Ignacio, who undergone appendectomy operation a week later, UST pounced on Nomadz’ s defensive blunders in the first half to take a commanding 6-0 lead.
Dorilyn Mendaza fueled the Lady Booters’ offensive juggernaut with a goal in the fourth minute before nailing a direct shot in the 19th minute to make it 3-0. In between Mendoza’s exploits, Josephine Luto scored USTs second goal via a 25-yard direct shot from the left wing.
Moments later, Rubio, Cristina Du and Joyce Macasaet took the scoring cudgels for the Lady Booters with goals in the 29th, 36th and 43rd minutes, respectively. Four more goals in the second half at the expense of Nomadz’ goalkeeping woes then completed Lady Booters’ romp to victory.
UST’s conquest of Nomadz served as an after-shock of sorts following their 3-1 bashing of the RP Under 17 team last Oct. 14.
Landagan spewed fire for UST with goals in the 54th and 60th minutes to offset the lone RP team foray by Pia Santos in the 56th minute. Another goal in the 63rd minute courtesy of Luto wrapped up the contest for the Lady Booters.
No. 2 spot
In MMGFA action, the Lady Booters’ inability to pierce La Salle’s interior defense with long shot attempts factored greatly in their 0-4 loss last Nov. 5 at the La Salle-Zobel football field.
With only Luto keeping the Lady Booters alive on the defensive end, the Lady Archers seized the moment and took a 0-2 edge in the first half.
UST carried its woes in the second half, allowing two more goals past their defensive walls. Clarissa Lazaro, who previously nailed La Salle’s second goal in the 27th minute back in the first half, struck anew with a goal in the 67th minute against three UST defenders.
The Lady Booters called it a day as soon as Justine Adiasto gave La Salle the marginal point in the 81st minute.
Despite the loss, UST still claimed the no. 2 spot with a 4-1 win-loss record behind the Lady Archers, who sport a 4-0 card.
Prior to bowing out against La Salle, UST hacked out identical 2-1 wins against Alumnae Football Club last Oct. 15 and Alabang Green Football Club last Oct. 8.
But what typified the Lady Booters’ fury was their whopping 28-0 demolition of Assumption College last Oct. 1 at the Ateneo High School football grounds.
Mendaza issued a double hat-trick while Ignacio delivered four more goals to lead UST’s offensive drive in a game that appeared a virtual shooting clinic in the face pf Assumption’s thawing resistance.
UST’s impeccable show of force took off from its 11-0 shellacking of the De La Salle University-Dasmariñas last Sept. 24 at the La Salle-Zobel football field. Anthony Andrew G. Divinagracia
