UAAP: Bicierro stars in Ateneo’s four-goal rout of National U

MANILA — Jada Bicierro led the way in Ateneo de Manila University’s 4-0 demolition of National University in the UAAP Season 89 women’s football tournament on Wednesday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium.

It took Bicierro just three minutes to put Ateneo on the board, beating NU goalkeeper Quenie Magarso in a 1v1 situation.

The former national futsal player then played a key role in Sophia Lyttle’s brace in the 31st and 38th minutes.

Lyttle made a run down the right flank before firing Bicierro’s low cross into the net for her first goal, while her second came off a short pass from Isabel Hemedes, who had received another cross from Bicierro.

Cassandra Zaldarriaga added the exclamation point in second-half stoppage time, finishing a ball in front of the goal following a corner kick.

Ateneo climbed to solo third with nine points and a goal difference of plus one, three points clear of the University of the Philippines, which has six points and a goal difference of zero.

Ateneo head coach Bob Manlulo was pleased with his team’s current standing but stressed that they need to make the necessary adjustments in the second round.

“It’s still within our objective for the first round to be in the top four; the objective is still there. But come the second round, of course teams are adjusted already; so I guess expect a much tighter competition among the schools as everyone has adjusted already,” he said.

Meanwhile, Marian Amburo and team captain Lourdes Ambahan tried to put NU in advantageous positions, but the Lady Bulldogs struggled to create a clear opportunity against Ateneo’s defense.

Lizzie Torres had a chance to give the Lady Bulldogs their first-ever UAAP goal in the 84th minute, but her free kick sailed over Blue Eagles goalkeeper Chelsey Casals.

NU remains in search of its first UAAP points and its elusive first-ever goal after absorbing its fifth straight loss to close the first round.