U.S. Women's Soccer Advances to Olympic Quarterfinals
8/12/2008 2:56:21 PM | Women's Soccer
SHENYANG, China -- The U.S. Women’s Soccer Team clinched Group G at the 2008 Olympics after a dominating 4-0 win against New Zealand. Heather O’Reilly, Amy Rodriguez, Lindsay Tarpley, and Angela Hucles each scored a goal for the United States, which finished the group stage with six points after going 2-1 in three games.
O’Reilly started the scoring barrage less than a minute into the match on a long-range right-footer over New Zealand goalkeeper Jenny Bindon. Then Rodriguez scored just before halftime in the 43rd minute off a pass from Rachel Buehler. These two first-half goals were all the U.S. would need as goalie Hope Solo posted her second straight shutout. Solo, under the guidance of goalie coach and Syracuse women’s soccer head coach Phil Wheddon, had three saves in the game and only allowed two goals in three games.
Tarpley and Hucles each added a goal in the second half. Tarpley added her goal in the 57th minute while Hucles struck just after that in the 60th minute. The U.S. victory, combined with Japan’s 5-1 win against Norway gave the U.S. the goal differential needed to win the group and to avoid a quarterfinal showdown with Brazil.
The U.S. faces Canada in the quarterfinals on Friday, August 15 at 6 a.m. ET in Shanghai. The match will be broadcast live on USA Network.
