St. John’s soccer standout Rachel Daly starts in opener at Olympics

Former St. John’s soccer star Rachel Daly started for Great Britain in its opening game of the Olympics. 

The Tokyo Olympics are officially underway after being pushed back one year due to the coronavirus pandemic and St. John’s soccer star Rachel Daly got the games stared off in a big way on the pitch.

Daly is one of eight current or former Red Storm athletes that are competing in Tokyo as she represents Great Britain in their quest for a Gold Medal.

ALSO READ: Women’s team releases fall season schedule

Rachel Daly currently holds the Red Storm program record with 50 career goals and 111 points in just three years as a member of the Johnnies.

After her senior year, which the star forward helped the Red Storm clinch a program record 15-win season and a Big East Regular Season Championship, she became the first St. John’s women’s soccer player to be drafted to the NWSL.

Daly was drafted sixth overall to the Houston Dash in 2016.

St. John’s soccer star gets Olympic Games started on positive note

Great Britain kicked off their Olympics against Chile in Group E and came out with a 2-0 win courtesy of goals from star striker Ellen White in the 18th and 73rd minutes to get off to a good start in this tournament.

Rachel Daly played the full 90 minutes at the left-back position for Great Britain.

ALSO READ: St. John’s heading back to normalcy, releases fall schedule

Typically known as a forward from her time with the Red Storm and Houston Dash, Daly occasionally plays as an outside back on the international level due to the abundance of attacking talent that the English possesses.

After Japan’s 1-1 draw with Canada, the victory puts Great Britain at the top of its group with two more matches to be played in group play.

Next up, Great Britain will take on the 2011 Women’s World Cup Champions and hosts Japan with a chance to lock up first place in the group with a win.