Texas Tech University Athletics
Janine Beckie and Canada Advance to Olympic Semifinals
August 12, 2016 | Women's Soccer
Beckie is credited with game winning goal in Canada's 1-0 win over France in the
São Paulo, Brazil-- Former Texas Tech soccer standout Janinie Beckie, and Canada's women's soccer team, have advanced to the Olympic semifinals after a, 1-0, victory over France Friday night at Corinthians Arena.
Behind three goals by Beckie the Canadian Women's National Team won group F, marking the second consecutive major tournament in which Canada has finished first in group play after achiving that same feat in the 2015 World Cup. So far in Rio, Canada has not suffered a loss and are the only team to have recorded four straight wins.
Following a back and forth first half, Canada went ahead in the 56th minute when Beckie chipped a ball in to Sophie Schmidt inside the 18' and fired a shot into the back of the net to take a 1-0 lead.
This year marks Canada's third consecutive appearance in the Women's Olympic Soccer Tournament with their best finish coming in 2012 when the team took home a Bronze medal. The Bronze medal in 2012 was Canada's first visit to the podium in a summer team sport since 1936.
Beckie and the Canadian National Team will be back in action on Tuesday when the team will face Germany in a pool play rematch in Belo Horizonte. With a win against Germany, the Canadians will advance to the tournament's gold medal match where they will be garunteed at least a sliver medal. With a loss, the team would advance to the bronze medal match where they would need a win to secure a podium position.
