The FEU Lady Tamaraws celebrate a goal against NU in the UAAP Season 89 women's football tournament, September 23, 2026 at the UP Diliman Football Stadium. UAAP Media
MANILA — Far Eastern University kicked off its bid for a fifth consecutive women's football crown by clobbering debutant National University, 5-0, on Wednesday evening at the UP Diliman Football Stadium.
The Lady Bulldogs were playing their first-ever UAAP women's football game, and they held firm in the first half against the Lady Tamaraws.
READ: NU 'very excited' for women's football debut
But FEU opened the floodgates in the second half, scoring four goals to join Ateneo de Manila University and De La Salle University at the top of the table with three points each after Day 1 of the UAAP Season 89 women's football tournament.
Marienell Cristobal, a FEU homegrown in her last playing year, provided the spark from set pieces, delivering pinpoint corner kicks that Althea Rebosura and Kristine Dela Peña headed home in the 25th and 51st minutes, respectively.
Substitute midfielder Angelie Tolosa then added to NU's woes in the 66th minute, calmly finishing inside the box to give the Lady Tamaraws a 3-0 advantage.
Julie Sacmar followed with a right-footed strike in the 81st minute before defender Kyaneza Abellar capped FEU's dominant display with an 89th-minute goal.
For FEU coach Let Dimzon, the emphatic victory was an encouraging way to begin the season, particularly after she was able to give valuable minutes to her reserves.
"We wanted to keep the quality and the standard of the game," said Dimzon. "We're happy with the result because of our second stringers. It means that they wanted to be in that spot; it's a good wake-up call for the starting 11."
The Lady Tamaraws controlled much of the proceedings, particularly in the attacking third, leaving goalkeeper Blaine Marie Barredo with little to do for much of the afternoon.
NU goalkeeper Quenie Aira Magarso, meanwhile, was kept busy throughout the match and made several important saves to keep the scoreline from ballooning further as the Lady Bulldogs endured their first taste of UAAP competition.
The victory extended FEU's winning streak to 14 matches and its unbeaten run to 33 games dating back to Season 85.
Still, Dimzon stressed the importance of giving her younger and less experienced players opportunities early in the campaign rather than relying solely on the team's established starters.
"Sa mga second stringers, especially new players, they need to get more exposure to the game," said Dimzon. "Some of them, this is their first match kase di lahat naglalaro ng 11-a-side, so now nakikita natin kung ano nako-contribute nila and nabibigay (yung best) nila into the game."
FEU will try to make it two wins in a row when it faces the University of the Philippines at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday at the same venue.
NU, meanwhile, will look to regroup from its historic debut when it takes on the University of Santo Tomas in the 2 p.m. opener on the same day.