The University of the Philippines (UP) Women’s Football Team (WFT) hit all the right notes to end an off-key Season 88 on a high, collecting its first points of the season in a 0-0 draw with the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Lady Booters on Wednesday, Nov. 5, at the UP Diliman Football Stadium.
Just desserts
Going into the last match of the season, the Fighting Maroons were firmly out of finals contention with a goal difference of -14 and no points to show, but started the game with renewed intensity.
Patricia Espinosa was the first to trouble the Lady Booters’ net as her looping corner kick was punched away by UST goalie Lizlie Garcia. The midfielder would continue to be a threat, with her long-range effort sailing over the crossbar in the 34th minute.
The Lady Booters grew in confidence as the match progressed, nearly taking the lead in the 41st minute as Rica Gerona’s strike from range was denied by UP goaltender Mariel Sancho.
The Maroons continued to press for the win in the second half, but were warded off by UST at every turn. Midfielder Hannah Muros found herself leading a State U counterattack late in the game, only for Garcia to deny her once more.
Gerona — who scored the game-winner when the two teams met in September — continued to torment the UP backline, but to no avail. Her wayward free kick in the 92nd minute was the last chance of the game as it ended 0-0, gifting the Fighting Maroons their first points of the season.
One eye on the past, one on the future
The stalemate marked the end of a sobering campaign for State U, which finished Season 88 maroon-ed at the bottom of the table with one draw, seven losses and eighteen goals conceded.
“In terms of overall performance, we definitely expected more from ourselves because we’ve set very high standards,” said coach Anto Gonzales in a post-game interview with Tinig ng Plaridel.
The WFT gaffer was equal parts critical and optimistic, alluding to challenges the team faced throughout the season.
“We have twelve rookies [and a] short preparation period to integrate the rookies [while we’re] playing a new playing system. So at least nagamit namin ‘yong season namin to see where the girls are. Halos lahat ng players were given ample playing time, so alam namin what things to work on for next season,” Gonzales said.
Faced with a growing number of obstacles, the Fighting Maroons began their campaign at the Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub in Imus, Cavite, against UST, losing out to a wondergoal by Rica Gerona.
It didn’t get any easier for the Maroon shirts as they were put to the sword by defending champs Far Eastern University (FEU), losing 4-0.
After further losses against De La Salle University (DLSU) and Katipunan rivals Ateneo, the Maroons made their long-awaited return to Diliman in a rematch against DLSU. Isalyn Tundag and Daday Rivas scored the WFT’s first goals of the season, but UP yielded to the green shirts 4-2.
Rivas was on the scoresheet again in the rematch against Ateneo, but UP fell just short of a comeback as the Blue Eagles triumphed once again, 2-1.
Already out of Finals contention, the WFT faced an assertive FEU side in its penultimate game, where the Lady Tamaraws replicated the 4-0 beating they handed the Maroons earlier in the season.
After a season marked by frustration and challenges, Gonzales firmly believes the most recent result is a sign the team is on the right track.
“The girls did really well. They fought really hard for each other, so I’m happy to have ended the season this way,” the coach maintained.
Though already out of the competition, Gonzales insists that clear skies are ahead. “Ngayon, na-instill sa kanila how we want to play, ano ‘yong demands, ano ‘yong expectations, and then we’re expecting some players to come back from injury, so at least we can prepare earlier for the next UAAP season.”
