Skip to main content

Eight from Pac-12 headed to 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup final

Jun 30, 2015
Minas Panagiotakis/Getty

United States beats Germany, 2-0 (Olympic Stadium // Montreal, Quebec)

Seven former Pac-12 student-athletes (and former UCLA women's soccer head coach Jill Ellis) advanced on Tuesday to the championship match of the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup with a 2-0 win over Germany. Forward Alex Morgan (California), defender Kelley O'Hara (Stanford), midfielder Lauren Holiday (UCLA) and goalkeeper Hope Solo all earned caps for the U.S. women's national team, but it was O'Hara who shined bright in Montreal. 

After entering the game as a sub in the 76th minute, the 2009 Hermann Trophy winner put a nail in Germany's coffin with a brilliant goal from inside the six-yard box to put America up 2-0 (Captain Carli Lloyd scored the first goal on a penalty kick in the 70th minute). Lloyd assisted O'Hara on the goal after an artful an run through the penalty box capped with a perfect pass on frame.

The only other Pac-12 alumna still in World Cup contention is England foward Jodie Taylor (Oregon State), who scored for the Lionesses in their quarterfinal win over Canada last Saturday. England faces reigning World Cup champion Japan in its semifinal match on Wednesday in Edmonton (4 PT, FOX).

As for the United States women, they will face Japan in the championship match on July 5 in Vancouver (4 PT, FOX). Team USA has not won the Women's World Cup since 1999.

Japan beats England, 2-1 (Commonwealth Stadium // Edmonton, Alberta)

Forward Jodie Taylor (Oregon State) earned a starting cap for the Lionesses in their first-ever Women's World Cup semifinal appearance, but ultimately it was the Britons who fell to Japan after a heartbreaking own goal in stoppage time. Japan struck first on a penalty kick in the 34th minute, but England's Fara Williams answered on a penalty kick of her own in the 41st. The two teams were deadlocked at 1-1 until the end of regulation. That's when when England defender Laura Bassett attempted an ill-fated clearance that dinked off her own crossbar and into goal in the 93rd minute. The referee blew the final whistle shortly after the ensuing kickoff, sending Japan on to the championship match vs. Team USA on Sunday in Vancouver (4 PT, FOX). 
 

Stay with Pac-12.com and follow @Pac12Networks on Twitter for continuing coverage of the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup.