PARIS — Former UC Santa Barbara Men's Soccer defender Michael Boxall finished the second Olympic campaign of his career on Tuesday, as his New Zealand side faced hosts France in their third and final group game. The Auckland native, who helped the Gauchos reach three straight Big West Championship matches and claim the title in 2010, played every minute for his country in Paris, but the Oly Whites, as they are known, were knocked out at the end of the group stage.
 
Boxall, who still holds the UC Santa Barbara record for minutes played in a season, played every second of New Zealand's 2024 Olympic competition, a first for him. He made his Olympic debut in Beijing in 2008, the first Games that New Zealand qualified for, and played in all three games. He was selected to the squad for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics as well, but was forced to sit out due to an injury.
 
New Zealand reached the quarterfinals of the Olympic tournament for the first time ever in Tokyo, and they took a big first step toward doing so again this year by winning their opening match against Guinea, 2-1. A defeat to the United States knocked the Oly Whites off track, with New Zealand needing a win over a favored France team in Tuesday's group stage finale. Boxall was lively against Les Blues, registering a pair of shots at goal, but the hosts won the match, knocking New Zealand out.
 
With his Games over, Boxall is set to return stateside and rejoin his club team Minnesota United in Major League Soccer.