“Fefa’s charrúa claw went down well with the cream claw” and “a champion with personality”: Women’s university, a project that is crowned with the League title

Therefore, some questions were asked to prominent sports journalists who cover women’s soccer and who are authorized voices to talk about the success of Tierradentro at the command of Universitario de Deportes.

1.- Why were the Lionesses champions?

2.- How much did the presence of ‘Fefa’ Lacoste influence in the final?

Pamela Fernandez – Ovation

1.- The fact that they started the game with a deficit on the scoreboard was crucial, as it forced the team to rethink their approach and play the second leg with the need to score. This situation was in line with Professor Tierradentro’s strategy and the team managed to adapt to this pressure during the second half of the game.

It should be noted that the signings of Universitario this 2023 responded to the club’s demand. Indeed, Luz Campoverde and Stephanie ‘Fefa’ Lacoste were the cream team’s top scorers this year and both arrived at the beginning of the season. Without a doubt, this was a success by the technical command and the people in charge of women’s football in the merengue team.

2.- ‘Fefa’ Lacoste had a determining influence in the championship final. His versatility and leadership were highlighted as he took control of both center back and attacking. This was reflected when he went on the attack and scored the goal to momentarily equalize the global result. The Uruguayan player appeared in all the important moments throughout the championship and was, for many, the footballer with the best level of this 2023.

Maria Katia Vidal – Journalist

1.- There are some key words that emerge from this championship and were spoken by the players themselves: unity, believing in themselves, playing with grit and committing to a game idea. This year’s team, in addition to scoring the most points in the women’s tournament, epitomizes the sustained work of a group hungry for glory.

2.- A lot. One of the main figures of the team throughout the championship, goalscorer, captain representing the “cream claw”. Her experience in multiple tournaments, her leadership quality, her love and her commitment to the club, were reflected in this final. Lacoste asked the fans to believe and did not disappoint.

Margarita Rivera – The Police

1.- Because it was the most regular team in the 2023 Women’s League. Universitario took the search for the title very seriously, forming a competitive cast and investing in foreign players who not only played well, but also gave the team personality.

2.- A lot. His experience and personality were paramount in the team’s performance. Strong and with a good game, she imposed her presence in the defense and encouraged her teammates with her temperament. Great reinforcement.

Stefany Álvarez – Journalist

1.- I think the U had a very serious project this season: renew important players and be successful in transfers, with new solid game ideas from the new technical team, and the attitude of the team, the “cream claw”. The club has also reflected institutional progress for its women’s team. All of this resulted in a very positive and dominant season for them. The final and the triumph, in the midst of so much pressure, was the demonstration of that.

2.- They were all indispensable, but ‘Fefa’ Lacoste was a captain in every way, and in the finals is when you need a player like that the most. Her “charrúa claw” of hers went down very well with the “cream claw”. And a special mention for the technique with which she defines the first goal after Novoa’s fine pass… she put all of Monumental in the comeback.

Denise Vera – Women’s soccer for everyone

1.- At the beginning of the year I had the opportunity to see and enter the dressing rooms of the soccer players, those that were personalized and worked exclusively for them. I know that you can read very little objective or nothing of importance, but from the facilities that you provide to your athletes to the training and presentation (La Noche Crema) matter to improve their performance. When he mentioned the coach Tierradentro, it was because he encouraged healthy competition within his team and listened to his athletes. On several occasions the creams declared that they would not know if they appeared on the list and they made an effort to do so. Being so that when they were summoned they looked happy. “Tierradentro was able to rescue the essence of the creams, that which is teamwork”, as Lorena Bossman, his captain, mentioned in 1996.

Although there is still a lot to improve in the tactical part and teach the lionesses to have more emotional control, which I hope will be achieved this September, since the 2023 women’s Copa Libertadores begins on October 5.

2.- Lacoste has been one of the most important hires in the U, because although in 2022 she was left without playing for a while due to an injury, she always watched the games, I remember seeing her in the black seats and sometimes in the north west, concentrated in the meeting details.

‘Fefa’ this year has had a leading role in the Peruvian League, I must not fail to highlight that the matches with her team helped her a lot to be able to stay in a better position, and I remember this because in an interview what I did to Fabrizio Acerbi, he mentioned that he was coordinating the permits so that she can go quietly to play for her country. There we can see the commitment of the authorities to its sporting development, which today gave them the glory of returning to a Copa Libertadores after 4 long years. About her presence on the field, because she is a defense that looks like a midfielder and ends up being a forward on more than one occasion. Because of her somatopido, she imposes a lot of presence on the court, but she does not leave her teammates aside, she always distributes, but as they say: whoever distributes, she gets the best part. Although there are still points that should be improved, such as the power in shooting free kicks and definition, I know that it is a lot to ask since their role is defense, but if the U is not reinforced well, I am sure that FEFA will begin to solve on the pitch with her teammates.

Luccina Aparicio – ESPN

1.- Because they were regular in all their matches, a good physical effort was noted from start to finish. And the motivation to play in a full stadium undoubtedly influenced the second leg final.

2.- It gave her a lot of hierarchy in the defensive back, for something, in my opinion, she has been the best player in the league. She influenced because she imposed character and infected her colleagues with that claw that she has in her Uruguayan DNA. Being part of a larger team (URU) also gives him the experience that the cream team required.

Darinka Zumaeta – ESPN

1.- Because they were the most regular team in the tournament, they only lost to Alianza in Matute and then they were undefeated. They have important players in all positions, with good signings and with better performance. Jhon Tierradentro, from the first day, imposed his idea of ​​the game and placed his trust in everyone. That was reflected in the tournament.

2.- His hierarchy in the sport has been important to infect the teammates. Not only in the final, but throughout the tournament. Her talent to play and the drive that she showed in all the games are characteristics of her that she looks for a big club to put the captain’s ribbon on someone and she knew how to get along with it. In the final, she stuck to her position, defending her goal and adding the freedom she had to go on the attack. The goal she scored opened the scoring and that motivated the players, who improved and were superior until the end of the match. Another of Fefa’s football characteristics is that she hits the long-distance ball very well, but yesterday she complemented that with a short and precise pass as well.

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