RIO DE JANEIRO -- A full day earlier than he really wanted to, Australia coach Tim Walsh had to send a runner out to his goalkicker with a very important message: This is for the gold medal.There was no Olympic medal to win in rugby sevens on Sunday, but there was plenty to lose for the Australians.The womens world series champions were seconds away from a shocking loss to the United States in the last group match of the tournament. Emma Tonegato reached over to score in the last minute to cut the margin to two points, leaving Chloe Dalton needing to kick the conversion to avoid the loss.I sent a message out to Chloe before she kicked saying, `This is for the gold medal, so keep your head down and slot this, and she did, Walsh said. I think she really likes the pressure.Walsh said the 12-12 draw with the Americans was was definitely the kick up the pants that we needed going into the quarterfinals.A loss wouldnt have changed the quarterfinal standings, but it would have dented the aura the Australians developed with a dominating run in the world series.The draw was followed by a 24-0 victory over Spain, putting Australia into a semifinal match against Canada on Monday. The winner will advance to a night final against either Britain or second-seeded New Zealand, which struggled to hold off the United States 5-0 in the last of the quarterfinals.With rugby back in the Olympics for the first time in 92 years, a womens team will claim the first gold medal ever awarded in sevens.The Australian players have been living and training together for more than a year to prepare for it.Now, were playing for a medal. Were not happy with a bronze or a silver, we want a gold, Walsh said. But most of all, we want to walk off that field without any regret. Weve created the opportunity, and now its up to us to take it.Tonegato scored the first try against Spain, following up her double against the Americans, and Charlotte Caslick crossed twice, including a solo, long-range try. Both have six tries for the tournament, level with Portia Woodman of New Zealand.Ellia Green, who had to leave the field in the first minute against the Americans after a clash of heads, returned in the second half against Spain and scored late -- a bustling, confidence-boosting try for the fastest woman in world rugby.Yesterday we were pretty well polished. Today, we grinded for our wins, which is what good teams need to do, Walsh said. Tomorrow well be ready to lift it up again and take it to a new level.Caslick said the Australian team had lifted its intensity after the close call against the Americans, when her desperate covering tackle saved an almost certain try that would have significantly altered the outcome.To get through that one, and to know tomorrow well be playing for a medal regardless of the outcome of our first game is pretty amazing, Caslick said. But obviously we came here to win gold.
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Nike Dunk High Cheap . Louis Cardinals. Victorino is batting sixth and playing right field after missing two games because of back tightness. CINCINNATI It is a brief three-game homestand for the Cincinnati Reds, but already the absence of Jay Bruce is being felt in the home clubhouse, although a dramatic walk-off win on Tuesday night helped temper emotions.Shortstop Zack Cozart who managed to survive Mondays non-waiver trade deadline, took over Bruces locker space, albeit with mixed emotions.Hes one of my best friends, if not my best friend, Cozart said of Bruce. Im going to miss him for sure. Im happy to be here. I want to be with Reds. We both wanted to be here.As it turned out, Cozart too was absent from the Reds lineup on Tuesday with a bruised right ring finger. His status is day-to-day heading into the second game of a three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday night.The Cardinals will try to rebound from a tough 7-5 loss in which Scott Schebler, who was recalled from Triple-A Louisville in the wake of the Bruce deal belted a three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth to win it.St. Louis has dropped three straight and now trails the first-place Chicago Cubs by nine games in the National League Central. The Cardinals also trail Miami by a half game for the second wild card spot.Cardinals right-hander Michael Wacha (6-7, 4.38 ERA) will oppose Reds left-hander Cody Reed (0-5, 7.07 ERA) Wednesday.Reed, one of three left-handers acquired from the Kansas City Royals last season in exchange for Johnny Cueto, is still looking for his first career victory in his eighth start.There have been flashes of brilliance for Reed who is considered among the best of several promising young arms in the Reds organization. He is the first Reds pitcher since Cueto to have at least nine strikeouts in his major league debut.Reed will be facing St. Louis for the first time.Wacha is 44-1 with a 3.dddddddddddd.75 ERA in his last 10 starts. He allowed three runs and four hits in six innings while getting a win Thursday in Miami.The Cardinals have dominated the Reds in recent years, winning 18 of the past 22 series and Wacha is 5-1 with a 1.84 ERA in 11 appearances vs. Cincinnati. In the last 11 series at Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati has won just three.Dating to the 2003 season, St. Louis has gone 31-4-2 in 37 series between them. But, the Reds have the upper hand after winning the opener.The Cardinals made a flurry of player moves on Tuesday and more activity is expected later this week.Shortstop Aledmys Diaz was placed on the disabled list with a fractured thumb after being hit by a pitch, but St. Louis also welcomed back shortstop Jhonny Peralta and right field Brandon Moss from the DL.While hes not expected to be back for the Cincinnati series, St. Louis is hoping to have Matt Carpenter back in the fold by the end of the week Stephen Piscotty batted leadoff for the first time in his career on Tuesday.Were not that many days away from having another leadoff guy as an option, manager Mike Matheny said of Carpenter.For Cincinnati, Adam Duvall moved from left field to right field replacing Bruce. Schebler was recalled from Triple-A Louisville where he was batting .311 to take over Duvalls spot in left.With the trade deadline passed, players from both clubs can focus on playing baseball.We knew something was going to happen, Reds catcher Tucker Barnhart said of the Bruce trade. But it still stinks to see it happen. Im very happy to see him move on to a situation where he has a chance of winning. ' ' '
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