BERKELEY – Cal women's soccer alumnae Betsy Hassett and Alex Morgan each saw their second games at the FIFA Women's World Cup play out to scoreless ties. Hassett and New Zealand drew with Canada on Thursday and Morgan and the U.S. tied with Sweden on Friday to each add a point to their team totals in group play.
Hassett saw her first start of the 2015 World Cup against Canada, logging 77 minutes in the midfield for the Football Ferns in a soggy, rain-delayed matched. Despite Canada outshooting New Zealand 10-5, including a 6-1 shot on goal advantage, Hassett and the Kiwis held Canada at bay.
The Football Ferns had a solid chance after being awarded a penalty kick in the 31st minute, which was taken by Amber Hearn, but Hearn hit the crossbar. Nearing halftime, Canada almost answered with a goal by Melissa Tancredi, but she was judged offside to keep the game scoreless.
After their loss in the opening game to the Netherlands and Thursday's tie, New Zealand currently ranks at the bottom of Group A with one point. Canada leads with four points, with China and Netherlands tied at second with three points each.
Morgan and the U.S. remain the leaders of Group D with four points after adding a point to their total in the draw with Sweden on Friday. Morgan, who has yet to see a start in any World Cup action since she first debuted in 2011, came on in the 78th minute for Sydney Leroux.
The two teams battled in a physical match, with Sweden overpowering the U.S. in the first half. The U.S. settled in after halftime, but still failed to score, sending forward three shots on frame of a total 12 shots. Sweden had just one shot on goal, saved by U.S. defender Meghan Klingenberg with a header away from the crossbar.
New Zealand is set for its final game of group play with a matchup against China at 4:30 p.m. PT on Fox Sports 2, and the U.S. follows with a Tuesday match against Nigeria at 5 p.m. on Fox.
More info on the Women's World Cup schedule below:
Groupings
Group A: Canada, China, New Zealand, Netherlands
Group B: Germany, Ivory Coast, Thailand, Norway
Group C: Japan, Switzerland, Cameroon, Ecuador
Group D: USA, Australia, Sweden, Nigeria
Group E: Brazil, Spain, South Korea, Costa Rica
Group F: France, England, Colombia, Mexico
Coverage
Each game will be broadcasted live on FOX, FOX Sports 1 or FOX Sports 2. Viewers can also stream live broadcasts on Fox Sports Go.
U.S. Group D Schedule (all times listed PT)
Tuesday, June 16:
Nigeria v. United States (5 p.m., FOX)
New Zealand Group A Schedule
Monday, June 15:
China v. New Zealand (4:30 p.m., FOX Sports 2)
