St. John’s soccer: Rachel Daly, Great Britain eliminated in quarterfinals

Former St. John’s soccer standout Rachel Daly and Great Britain fell in an extra-time thriller

Former St. John’s soccer star Rachel Daly was once again was in the starting 11 for Team Great Britain in their quarterfinal game against Australia on Friday morning.

Great Britain entered the knockout stage of the tournament as the Group E winners, while Australia qualified into the knockout bracket as a third-place team coming out of Group G.

Team GB only gave up one goal in all of group play, which was an impressive feat given some of the challenging opponents they faced off with.

Great Britain showed plenty of solid defense and performances that had some thinking that the team could make a run to win the Gold Medal.

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However, on Friday, the defensive displays from the group stage did not carry over to the knockout rounds.

Austrailia took the lead through center-back Alanna Kennedy from a header off of a corner in the 35th minute.

Great Britain answered back in the second half with two goals in eight minutes by Ellen White, her fourth and fifth goals of the tournament.

Rachel Daly, for the third straight game, was deployed out on the right wing after being put in the left back spot in the opener against Chile. Daly completed 58 minutes before being pulled off for Fran Kirby.

St. John’s soccer star sees team falter from the sidelines

Great Britain looked to have secured a tight 2-1 win until Austrialian star Sam Kerr equalized in the 89th minute to send the game into extra time.

Great Britain had a chance to take a 3-2 lead in the 102nd minute through a penalty, but midfielder Caroline Weir saw her penalty saved keeping the score tied.

Forwards Mary Fowler and Sam Kerr scored in a three minute span to stretch the Austrailian lead to 4-2 at the 108th minute and that looked as if the game was sealed.

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Ellen White tried to help England make a late comeback with a goal in the 115th minute to complete a hat trick and her sixth goal of the tournament, but despite a valiant effort they couldn’t grab an equalizing goal late on and the game finished with a exhilarating 4-3 scoreline.

It will probably go down as the best game of the tournament, but it is a disappointing result for Great Britain who held expectations to win a gold medal and were just one win shy of being guaranteed to compete for a medal.

Rachel Daly will now head back to the Houston Dash as Great Britain are eliminated from the Olympics.