Alex Morgan, USWNT Rebound Against Ferns
TOKYO – Cal alumna Alex Morgan and the United States women's soccer team routed New Zealand, 6-1, on Saturday in the Olympics to bounce back from their opening loss to Sweden. The Americans earned three points and evened their record at 1-1 in Group G play at Saitama Stadium.
Morgan, who played 16 minutes off the bench, scored in the 87th minute to give the United States a 5-1 lead. Four different players recorded a goal for the U.S., with New Zealand also adding a pair of own goals.
Two of the three former Golden Bears who played in the game netted their first goals of the Summer Games, with Betsy Hassett getting the lone strike for the Football Ferns in the 72nd minute. Hassett and Daisy Cleverly started for New Zealand, playing 87 and 80 minutes, respectively, before subbing out.
On Tuesday, Team USA plays Australia and New Zealand battles Sweden to wrap up group play.
Men's Rowing
The Netherlands and Cal alumnus Maarten Hurkmans had the fastest time in the second heat of the men's eight – going 5:30.66 – to advance to Tuesday's final at the Sea Forest Waterway. The United States and Cal alum Julian Venonsky finished second in the first heat of the men's eight with a time of 5:30.57 to move on to the repechage along with Australia – and current Bear Angus Dawson – which was fourth in the heat in 5:43.66.
In the first heat for the men's pair, Cal alumnus Niki van Sprang and Dutch teammate Guillaume Krommonhoek posted a time of 6:36.42 to finish second, while the Serbian boat of former Bear Martin Mackovic and teammate Milos Vasic finished third in 6:43.18. Both boats advanced to the A/B semifinals. In the final heat for the men's pair, Denmark, with former Bear Joachim Sutton and Frederic Vystavel, took second in 6:36.93 to also reach the A/B semifinals, scheduled for Tuesday in Tokyo Bay.
Women's Rowing
In the second heat of the women's four, Cal alumna Rosemary Popa and Australia notched the fastest time (6:28.76) to advance to the final, while the U.S. boat with former Bear Kendall Chase finished fourth with a time of 6:43.80 in the same heat. The U.S. moves on to the repechage along with Great Britain and Cal alum Rowan McKellar, who were fourth in a time of 6:41.02 in the first heat at the Sea Forest Waterway.
Cal alum Sydney Payne and Canada took second in the first heat of the women's eight in a time of 6:07.97 to reach the repechage.
Softball: USA 2, Mexico 0
Cal alumna Val Arioto and the United States earned their third shutout of the Olympics when they defeated Mexico, 2-0, in group play at Yokohama Baseball Stadium. Ali Aguilar hit a two-run single in the third inning, Cat Osterman picked up her second win and Monica Abbott got her second save to lift Team USA to 3-0. Arioto, who again got the start at first base, went 0-for-2 with a walk.
Women's Swimming
The United States posted the second-best time (3:34.80) in the 400-meter freestyle relay heats, with no Bears among the morning quartet at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre. But Cal alum Abbey Weitzeil – who won the 100 free at Olympic Trials and earned Olympic silver with the U.S. in the 400-free relay in 2016 – is expected to swim in the final for the U.S. on Saturday night.
A pair of former Bears – Camille Cheng and Stephanie Au – swam the middle legs of the 400-free relay heats for Hong Kong, which did not advance to the final. Cheng swam the second leg and Au took the third, as Hong Kong recorded a time of 3:43.52.
In the 100-meter butterfly heats, Cal alum Farida Osman swam a time of 58.69 for Egypt but did not reach the semifinals.
Men's Tennis
Cal alum Ben McLachlan and Japan teammate Kei Nishikori defeated Portugal's Joao Sousa and Pedro Sousa, 6-1, 6-4, in the doubles first round at Ariake Tennis Park. McLachlan, making his Olympic debut, won the first game of the match with one of his three aces and closed out the contest with a service winner.
Women's Water Polo: Australia 8, Canada 5; Spain 29, South Africa 4
Spain and former Bear Roser Tarrago thrashed South Africa, 29-4, in A Group A game on Saturday. Tarrago started and scored three goals for her nation, which led 19-5 at halftime. Next up for Spain is a Monday clash with Canada, which fell to Australia, 8-5, on Saturday. Current Bear Emma Wright and alumnae Kelly McKee and Kindred Paul started in Canada's loss at the Tatsumi Water Polo Centre.
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