Irish in the Olympics: Tancredi, Williams still in medal contention

The Olympics are winding down for former Notre Dame athletes, but two former Irish athletes have put themselves in a position to earn a medal.

After an off day Monday, Notre Dame alums returned to competition Tuesday, with Melissa Tancredi competing in the women’s soccer semifinal for Canada against Germany and Natalie Achonwa representing Canada’s women’s basketball in the quarterfinals against France.

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Both teams failed to advance, with Tancredi’s squad falling 2-0 to the Germans after besting them by the same margin in group play. Tancredi had scored twice in that win, but she was silent Tuesday, recording no shots on goal in 85 minutes played.

With the loss, Canada still has the opportunity to grab a bronze medal, equaling its performance in London four years ago. To do so, however, Tancredi and her teammates will have to best host country Brazil, ranked eighth in the world. That game is scheduled for Friday.

Achonwa, on the other hand, will have no such chance. The 10th-ranked Canadians entered Tuesday’s game looking to advance and possibly earn the country’s first medal in the sport, but the French rallied after a slow first quarter to take the 68-63 win.

In nearly 16 minutes of play, Achonwa had just two points and three rebounds, while turning the ball over four times, most on the team.

On Wednesday, former Irish basketball great Monty Williams took to the court as an assistant coach for the U.S. men’s team in its quarterfinal against Argentina. After three straight close wins, the Americans finally busted out of their slump to thrash the Argentines, 105-78. They will now face archrival Spain in the semis.

In 2012, five former Notre Dame athletes won one gold and four bronze medals, a Summer Olympics record. Thus far, the Irish have one gold and two bronze these Games. If Williams claims a gold medal, it will be the most golds for the Irish since 2004.