By Gio Carlo D. Castro

Strutting a veteran-loaded roster strengthened by experiences and past-season learning, the Far Eastern University (FEU) women’s football team notched its first win at the expense of Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU), 3-0, to begin their season 81 campaign in University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) women’s football tourney, March 2, at the Circulo Verde Field in Quezon City.

With a high note result, FEU head coach Marnelli Dimzon shared how she sees this victory as an improvement for the team from their performance last year.

“It’s a good start for us. Beating Ateneo with 3-0 [full time score] is a good start. Makikita na namin ‘yung level ngayon ng players improving from the last seasons (We can now see the level of the players improving from the last sesons),” Dimzon said.

In the first 45 minutes of the women’s debut match, the Morayta-based squad registered an early lead at the 10th minute mark courtesy of the strike of Masbateña-rookie Joyce Ann Onrubia.

The goal was then doubled by veteran booter Jovelle Sudaria who made a twisted attempt from a distance with a momentum all throughout at the 31st minute.

Moreover, FEU’s homegrown Dimzon recalled that the spadework of her team turned out well in specific aspects.

Dimzon said, “And then regarding doon sa compactness and then attacking system namin [and] defending system, actually nag-work out lahat ng ginawa namin during preparations (And then regarding the compactness and then our attacking system and defending system, all of what we did during preparations, it all worked out).”

However, Dimzon also shared that they will need to check the condition of Suettie Marie Simoy who got a knee injury in the middle of the game.

As she put it, “Ang kailangan naming i-check is si Simoy kasi medyo delikado. Hopefully by next game, makalaro siya (The one that we need to check is Simoy because it is a bit dangerous. Hopefully by next game, she’ll be able to play).”

As the heated action approached the 90th minute mark, Bukidnon-native Roselle Marie Lecera’s strike provided another goal for FEU, 3-0.

“With the system na ginagawa ng UST and the strength of their players, siguro ‘yun ‘yung kailangan namin – individual tasking and papaano [magtrabaho] as a group (With the system that UST has been doing and the strength of their players, I think that is what we need – individual tasking and how to work as a group),” Dimzon ended.

The green-and-gold lady booters will try to continue its winning streak on March 6 against the University of Santo Tomas (UST), at the same venue.

(See full album: UAAP 81 Women's Football - FEU vs Ateneo)