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Alex Morgan scores for USWNT, who beat Betsy Hassett and New Zealand 2-0

The opening ceremony may be two days away, but our first event with Calympians will see two (Alex Morgan and Betsy Hassett) go head to head.

By Ruey Yen
Olympics Day 7 - Women's Football Q/F - Match 20 - USA v New Zealand
Alex Morgan and USWNT defeated New Zealand in London 2012 Quarterfinal. Both countries will open their Rio 2016 play against one another.
Photo by Stanley Chou/Getty Images

The Rio 2016 Calympics started on Wednesday night with Women’s Soccer group play between Alex Morgan’s USA and Betsy Hassett’s New Zealand. Morgan and the USWNT kicks off their quest to four-peat (is this term copyrighted by Pat Riley also?) with a 2-0 victory over the Football Ferns of New Zealand.

The non-Cal Carli Lloyd scored the first goal of the match with a header to give the Americans the lead in the first half. Alex Morgan scored U.S.A.’s 2nd goal of the match at the very first minute of the second half.

Betsy Hassett played all 90 minutes and picked up a yellow card.

USA will play next on a super busy Saturday with a ton of Calympics action. USA will face France.

New Zealand has an extra day off and plays Colombia on Sunday.

Women’s Soccer Group G play: U.S.A. vs. New Zealand

When: Wednesday, August 3rd, 3 PM PT

Where: Mineirão Stadium; Belo Horizonte, Brazil

TV: NBCSN (also NBCOlympics.com)

Calympians in action: Alex Morgan (U.S.A), Betsy Hassett (New Zealand)

Former Golden Bears and teammates for two years (2009 and 2010), Alex Morgan and Betsy Hassett will face off in the Olympics for the 2nd consecutive time. Alex Morgan and the USWNT defeated Betsy Hassett and New Zealand 2-0 in the Quarterfinals of 2012 London en route to the Olympic Gold. In fact, Alex Morgan is looking to lead the Americans to their 4th consecutive Olympic Gold. With Abby Wambach now retired, Alex Morgan is the clear go-to striker for the United States.

Betsy Hassett and the Football Ferns are a team on the rise. After advancing to the knockout stage for the first time in London 2012, they are hoping to achieve even more. A starting midfielder for the Ferns, look for Betsy Hassett to be involved heavily in both the offense and defense for her New Zealand squad.

Both the United States and New Zealand are in Group G with France and Colombia. The top two finishers after the round robin will be guaranteed a spot in the knockout stage. The two best 3rd place teams out of the three groups will join them.

Both of Calympians in this game - Alex Morgan and Betsy Hassett are excited about the start of the Rio games and this match, are you?

More on today’s match:

GO BEARS!

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