Current:Home > MarketsU.S. women's water polo grinds out win for a spot in semifinals vs. Australia -Visionary Wealth Guides
U.S. women's water polo grinds out win for a spot in semifinals vs. Australia
View
Date:2025-04-15 06:25:53
NANTERRE, France — Team USA women’s water polo’s quest for a fourth consecutive Olympic gold medal remains alive after the Americans knocked off Hungary, 5-4, in the quarterfinals Tuesday. Advancing to Thursday’s semifinals, they’ll take on Australia, which topped Greece, 9-6, earlier in the day.
“Me and Maggie [Steffens] hugged each other and just screamed in each other's faces, just acknowledging that we both put our whole selves into that game,” USA goalkeeper and three-time Olympian Ashleigh Johnson said.
“We both could see that effort and appreciate that effort, and it's on to the next one. We're like, ‘We got this.’”
In a hard-fought contest, the teams were fairly even throughout the match, and Team USA had a 3-2 lead after two quarters. Tied at 4-4 midway through the fourth quarter, three-time Olympian Rachel Fattal delivered the go-ahead goal with 3:02 left and ultimately sealed the victory for the Americans.
All about defense, it was the lowest combined women’s water polo score of the Olympics so far.
2024 Olympic medals: Who is leading the medal count? Follow along as we track the medals for every sport.
“We knew it was gonna be a grind,” Fattal said of Hungary. “We knew it was gonna be a tough game no matter what, whether it was high-scoring or low-scoring. And we knew we were gonna have to fight the whole time. So, no, it doesn't surprise me that it was low-scoring at all.”
Team USA’s captain, Steffens, a four-time Olympian, led the team with two goals off three shots, and Johnson made 17 saves on 21 shots on the day at Paris La Défense Arena.
“[Johnson] continues to set the bar extremely high,” Steffens said. “I think it's kind of funny how when she doesn't have over 15 saves — which is absurd — people are like, ‘Oh, tough game.' It's like, what?" …
“Something that's great about Ashleigh is it's just, it's not just her ability to block balls and be our wall back there, but she's a huge leader for us.”
The other semifinal match will feature Spain, which topped Canada, against Netherlands, which beat Italy in the quarterfinals Tuesday.
Spain and Netherlands are set to face off at 8:35 a.m. ET Thursday, while Team USA and Australia will play the second semifinal at 1:35 p.m. ET.
veryGood! (564)
Related
- Hackers hit Rhode Island benefits system in major cyberattack. Personal data could be released soon
- Paul Rudd, Ryan Gosling and more stars welcome Kristen Wiig to the 'SNL' Five-Timers Club
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Shuffleboard
- Ohio state lawmaker’s hostile behavior justified legislative punishments, report concludes
- SFO's new sensory room helps neurodivergent travelers fight flying jitters
- 'The Regime' series finale: Kate Winslet breaks down the ending of her HBO political drama
- A glance at some of the legislation approved in the Maryland General Assembly
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Shuffleboard
- Angelina Jolie nearly fainted making Maria Callas movie: 'My body wasn’t strong enough'
- More proof Tiger Woods is playing in 2024 Masters: He was practicing at Augusta
Ranking
- Friday the 13th luck? 13 past Mega Millions jackpot wins in December. See top 10 lottery prizes
- British man claims the crown of the world's oldest man at age 111
- UConn freshman Stephon Castle makes Alabama pay for 'disrespect' during Final Four win
- Lauren Graham Reveals Matthew Perry's Final Birthday Gift to Her
- The FBI should have done more to collect intelligence before the Capitol riot, watchdog finds
- More proof Tiger Woods is playing in 2024 Masters: He was practicing at Augusta
- In pivotal election year, 'SNL' should be great. It's only mid.
- Why Brandi Cyrus Says Mom Tish Cyrus Is in Her Unapologetic Era
Recommendation
Residents worried after ceiling cracks appear following reroofing works at Jalan Tenaga HDB blocks
Winning $1.326 billion Powerball ticket drawn in Oregon
Trump declines to endorse a national abortion ban and says it should be left to the states
South Carolina joins elite company. These teams went undefeated, won national title
Moving abroad can be expensive: These 5 countries will 'pay' you to move there
British man claims the crown of the world's oldest man at age 111
Jelly Roll Reveals Why His Private Plane Had to Make an Emergency Landing
Jelly Roll's private plane makes emergency landing on way to CMT Awards: 'That was scary'