Despite going down a man in the 19th minute, Canada clung to its lead for more than 60 minutes before team captain Christine Sinclair added an insurance goal in the 80th minute.
West Virginia seniors Kadeisha Buchanan and Ashley Lawrence played the full 90 minutes on Canada’s backline. Buchanan, a native of Brampton, Ontario, was issued a yellow card in the 49th minute.
Canada earned the lead off the first kick, with Sinclair feeding a streaking Beckie, a former Texas Tech standout. The goal was the fastest in Olympic history.
Buchanan jumpstarted Sinclair’s score, making a block in the defensive zone which freed the ball for teammate Jessie Flemming, who sent it up to Sinclair.