UP nips La Salle, nabs 1st UAAP women’s football crown

University of the Philippines showed tremendous composure to defeat La Salle, 2-1, and annex its first-ever UAAP women’s football crown Thursday at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

Winger Angeliza Sta. Clara nailed a difficult header to the Fighting Maroons the lead in the 67th minute.

“She stepped up big time in the absence of Kali (Huff). She showed big improvement,” said UP coach Anto Gonzales on Sta. Clara.

Kali Huff suffered a season-ending ACL injury midway in the eliminations, and Sta. Clara stepped up to the plate in her absence.

The Lady Maroons were glad to survived the Lady Archers’ domination in possession in the first 45 minutes of play, thanks to several brillant saves by keeper AJ Javier.

“In the first half, we felt like it was gonna be a long day. But the girls responded very well from the break,” said Gonzales.

UP opened the scoring as Cristina delos Reyes converted the spot kick in the 50th minute after La Salle’s Regine Metillo gave up a foul inside the box.

Aira Agustin was called for handball 10 minutes later, paving the way for the Rookie of the Year winner and Best Midfielder Sara Castañeda to score the equalizer for the Lady Archers via a penalty kick.

On her final game for the Lady Maroons, defender Molly Manalansan went home with the season MVP honors.

Just like their men’s counterparts, the Lady Maroons are dedicated to win it all for Rogie Maglinas, a 19-year old defender who passed away after a bout with rhabdomyosarcoma, or cancer of the skeletal muscles last January.

It was a sorry loss for La Salle, which failed to tie Far Eastern University for the most titles in the women’s side with nine. They ended the elimination round with 20 points on six wins and two draws only to sputter on the most important game of the tournament.

The Lady Archers swept all the individual awards as Castañeda and Shannon Arthur shared the Best Striker plum, Metillo bagged the Best Defender award, while Inna Palacios is the Best Goalkeeper.