Soccer

Soccer GameDay: U.S. women’s team begins Olympic pursuit

Star-Telegram
Carli Lloyd, center, tallied a hat trick in the first 28 minutes Jan. 23 when the United States routed Ireland 5-0 in an international friendly in San Diego.
Carli Lloyd, center, tallied a hat trick in the first 28 minutes Jan. 23 when the United States routed Ireland 5-0 in an international friendly in San Diego. Gregory Bull AP

United States women vs. Costa Rica

7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Toyota Stadium, Frisco

TV: NBC Live Extra (streaming)

About the United States: The team begins its Road to Rio with the first of three matches in Group A of the CONCACAF women’s Olympic Qualifying Championship. It’s only their second match of 2016, with the other a 5-0 defeat of Ireland on Jan. 23 in San Diego. Midfielder Carli Lloyd recorded a first-half hat trick against Ireland and added an assist on forward Alex Morgan’s goal just before intermission. The U.S. seeks to qualify for its sixth consecutive Olympics.

About Costa Rica: After participating in the FIFA Women’s World Cup for the first time in 2015, Las Ticas will be looking to continue their progress by making their first Olympics. To reach this event, the team went 3-0-0 in Central American qualifying, during which Melissa Herrera and Karla Villalobos scored three goals each. Top two teams in Group A and Group B reach the Feb. 19 semifinals in Houston.

This story was originally published February 9, 2016 at 5:52 PM with the headline "Soccer GameDay: U.S. women’s team begins Olympic pursuit."

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