Indiana University Athletics
Velasquez, Colombia Drop Olympic Debut To North Korea
7/25/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
July 25, 2012
GLASGOW, Scotland - Orianica Velasquez, a rising senior on the Indiana University Women's Soccer team, led her native country of Colombia to its first-ever appearance in Olympic women's soccer on Wednesday against Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) at Hampden Park. North Korea came away with a 2-0 victory over Colombia in the opener for both squads.
Velasquez also became the first IU women's soccer player to appear in the Olympic Games.
Playing against a stout defensive side in North Korea, Velasquez was routinely double teamed when she touched the ball in the final third of the field. She was able to get one shot off in the game but it was from long range and sailed wide left of the goal.
The start of the game was delayed for over an hour after the flag of South Korea was displayed on the videoboard at the stadium next to the North Korean players photo, prompting the North Koreans to refuse to take the field.
These two teams played to a 0-0 draw last summer in Germany as part of pool play at the FIFA Women's World Cup.
Colombia will continue pool play on Saturday (July 28) when they take on the United States at 12:00 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network (Check local listings). The game can also be watched online by visiting nbcolympics.com.
