Mewis, Dahlkemper Win Olympic Bronze

UCLA alumnae Sam Mewis and Abby Dahlkemper won Olympic bronze with Team USA after a 4-3 victory over Australia in the bronze medal match on Aug. 5.

In the highest-scoring medal match in Olympic women's soccer history, the U.S. jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead on an Olimpico goal in the eighth minute, as Megan Rapinoe sent her corner kick directly into goal. Australia answered in the 17th minute on a strike by Sam Kerr, but Rapinoe put the U.S. ahead again just three minutes later, capitalizing on an errant pass by an Australian defender and volleying it into the left side of the net. Carli Lloyd gave the U.S. a two-goal lead in the first minute of stoppage time with a precision shot to the far post. Lloyd struck again in the 51st minute, chasing down another misplayed ball by the Matildas and beating former Bruin goalkeeper Teagan Micah on the one-on-one opportunity to put the U.S. up 4-1.

Australia showed tremendous fight to claw back into the game. Caitlin Foord scored on a header in the 54th minute to trim the lead to 4-2, and Emily Gielnik hit a long-range shot in the 90th minute to pull to within one, but time ran out on the Matildas, who nevertheless recorded their best-ever finish at the Olympic Games.

Mewis started for the U.S. and played 61 minutes. Dahlkemper dressed but did not play. Micah made five saves on 18 U.S. shots.

Jessie Fleming and Canada will play for the gold medal against Sweden on Friday, Aug. 6 at 5am PT. The match, which will be televised on USA Network, was moved to later in the day due to heat concerns.