US edges Hungary 5-4 in a physical women's water polo quarterfinal at the Paris Olympics

NANTERRE, France (AP) — Ashleigh Johnson made 17 saves and Rachel Fattal snapped a tie in the fourth quarter, helping the U.S. women's water polo team edge Hungary 5-4 in a physical quarterfinal at the Paris Olympics on Tuesday night.

U.S. captain Maggie Steffens scored two goals and played terrific defense on Hungary center Rebecca Parkes down the stretch. The 31-year-old Steffens played the entire game.

“We wanted it and so did Hungary," Johnson said. “We knew it was going to be a grind. ... The score reflects what a battle it was.”

The U.S. is going for an unprecedented fourth consecutive gold medal. No team — men or women — has won four straight water polo titles at the Olympics.

Next up for the U.S. is Australia, which advanced with a 9-6 win over Greece. Spain faces Netherlands in the other semifinal on Thursday at Paris La Defense Arena.

Spain rolled over Canada for an 18-8 victory, and the Netherlands beat Italy 11-8 in the second quarterfinal.

Hungary pushed the U.S. all the way to the end in another close matchup. Hungary beat the U.S. 10-9 in group play during the Tokyo Games, and it also handed the Americans a 10-8 loss on July 9. The U.S. topped Hungary 8-7 for gold at the world championships in Qatar in February.

The matchup at the Paris Games was tied at 4 going into the fourth period. Fattal then put the U.S. ahead to stay with a perfectly slotted shot during a 6-on-4 power play with 3:02 left.

Hungary had a couple chances to tie it up in the final minutes, but the U.S. used Johnson and its tough defense to hold on.

“It was a really hard-fought game," Fattal said. "We knew that it was going to be a really tough game, and that it was going to be a grind, and we just had to keep going the whole time.”

Hungary finished with 31 shots, compared with 22 for the United States. Rita Keszthelyi, Krisztina Garda, Kamilla Farago and Dora Leimeter scored for Hungary.

“It’s a huge disappointment, especially because we showed a solid level,” Hungary's Geraldine Mahieu said. "We were lacking a bit in attack. We can still be very proud of what we have achieved.”

U.S. star Maddie Musselman was held scoreless. She was credited with three shots.

Spain, which lost to the U.S. in the Tokyo final, improved to 5-0 at the Olympics. It has outscored its opponents 69-44 so far.

Elena Ruiz scored four times in the quarterfinal win, and Bea Ortiz continued her strong tournament with three more goals. Martina Terre made 12 saves.

Anni Espar Llaquet sparked a 4-0 run for Spain when she scored with 4:58 left in the first quarter. Ortiz's goal made it 6-1 in the final seconds of the period.

“We knew if we gave Canada a chance they would be in the game, so we had to start very strong and be confident with our game," Espar Llaquet said.

Verica Bakoc scored five goals for Canada on five shots. Canada dropped to 1-4 heading into a classification game on Thursday.

“We play a little sport in a big country (and) there’s not enough people playing," Axelle Crevier of Canada said. "I feel proud to compete against nations like Spain who have many water polo players.”

The Netherlands earned its fourth win of the Olympics. Its only loss came in a penalty shootout against Australia.

Simone van de Kraats, Brigitte Sleeking, Vivian Sevenich and Lieke Rogge each scored two goals on Tuesday.

“We are really pushing each other to a higher level," Sevenich said. "I think that showed today, and we’re not done yet.”

The Netherlands carried a 6-5 lead into the fourth quarter. Sevenich and Rogge then scored to make it 8-5 with 5:35 to go.

Van de Kraats helped close it out when she made it 11-7 with 1:03 left.

Claudia Marletta scored three goals for Italy. Dafne Bettini and Valeria Palmieri each had two.

Australia was led by Alice Williams, who had five goals on seven shots. Bronte Halligan, who played the entire game, and Abby Andrews each scored twice.

Gabi Palm made 13 saves on 19 shots, helping Australia stay undefeated at the Games.

Greece's Eleni Xenaki trimmed Australia's lead to 8-6 with 1:16 left, but Williams responded with a power-play goal with 38 seconds to go.

AP Summer Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games

United States' Madeline Musselman celebrates after winning a women's quarterfinal match between USA and Hungary, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in Paris. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

United States' Madeline Musselman and her teammate Jordan Raney celebrate after winning a women's quarterfinal match between USA and Hungary, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in Paris. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

United States' Kaleigh Gilchrist celebrates after winning a women's quarterfinal match between USA and Hungary, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in Paris. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

United States' Madeline Musselman celebrates after winning a women's quarterfinal match between USA and Hungary, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in Paris. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

United States' Madeline Musselman and her teammate Jordan Raney celebrate after winning a women's quarterfinal match between USA and Hungary, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in Paris. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Italy's Valeria Palmieri battles for the ball with Netherland's Brigitte Sleeking during a women's quarterfinal match between Netherlands and Italy, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in Paris. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Spain players celebrate after a women's quarterfinal match between Canada and Spain, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug.6, 2024, in Paris. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Netherland's Lieke Rogge celebrates after scoring a goal during a women's quarterfinal match between Netherlands and Italy, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in Paris. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Spanish supporters celebrate after Spain won a women's quarterfinal match between Canada and Spain, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug.6, 2024, in Paris. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Netherland's Lola Moolhujzen and her teammate Netherland's Kittylynn Joustra celebrate at the end of a women's quarterfinal match between Netherlands and Italy, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in Paris. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Spain's Nona Perez Vivas celebrates after a women's quarterfinal match between Canada and Spain, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug.6, 2024, in Paris. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

The New England Patriots showed in Week 2 why they are sticking with Jacoby Brissett at quarterback over first-round draft pick Drake Maye.

Not because Brissett is moving the offense with his arm, or even his legs.

But because it’s not yet safe for Maye to line up behind the Patriots’ offensive line.

Brissett was sacked three times and hit a handful of others in the 23-20 overtime loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. One left the caretaker quarterback favoring his shoulder, another twisted his knee.

And the Patriots have invested too much in Maye — the No. 3 overall pick in the draft — to put the former North Carolina star at risk.

“You never want your quarterback to get hit,” coach Jerod Mayo said. “We have to do a better job with our pass (protection) up front, and we have to keep him clean. Because even when he’s not getting hit, or any quarterback, if they’re back there and they feel people around him, it always is going to affect you a little bit.”

Although the Patriots came into the season with low expectations — they were the biggest underdog in the league in Week 1 — Brissett managed the offense well enough to come away with an upset of the Cincinnati Bengals. Mayo crowed that his offensive line had been unfairly maligned.

But the problems the blockers showed in the preseason — Brissett hurt his right shoulder in the finale against Washington — reappeared against the Seahawks.

One key turning point came after Antonio Gibson broke free for a 45-yard run to the Seattle 25 with about seven minutes left and New England holding a 20-17 lead. After two runs that took almost two minutes off the clock, Brissett was sacked for a 9-yard loss, dropping the Patriots from the 21 to the 30.

The 48-yard field goal attempt was blocked, setting the Seahawks up on a short field for the tying field goal that sent the game into overtime.

The defense — especially the run defense — has been solid. The Seahawks managed just 46 yards on 19 carries.

The passing game has been slow to develop over the first two games, with Brissett totaling 30 completions for 270 yards and one touchdown so far this season. He has thrown only one pass downfield, according to Sportradar — the fewest attempts of 20 or more yards in the league. Only the Commanders (0-2), the Panthers (0-6) and the Bears (0-10) also have failed to complete a deep pass.

Tight end Hunter Henry caught eight passes, matching a career high, for a personal-best 109 yards.

After managing the season opener well enough to beat the Cincinnati Bengals, Brissett completed just 15 of 27 passes for 149 yards.

Linebacker Ja'Whaun Bentley, a defensive captain, left the game in the first quarter with a shoulder injury. Center David Andrews missed practice on Monday with a hip injury.

19 – Brissett completed three passes for 19 yards to wide receivers in the game. It’s the eighth time since the merger that Patriots wide receivers have picked up fewer than 20 passing yards in a game. Brissett has two of them, also connecting with wide receivers for just 16 yards in a 16-0 loss to Buffalo on Oct. 2, 2016, the final game of Tom Brady’s Deflategate suspension.

The Patriots travel to the Meadowlands to play the Jets on Thursday night.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

New England Patriots place kicker Joey Slye, right, kicks a field goal in front of punter Bryce Baringer, left, in the first half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo adjusts his microphone in the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson, right, celebrates after his touchdown with tight end Hunter Henry, left, in the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

New England Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett, left, and Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith, greet one another in the center of the field following an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

New England Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett speaks with reporters following an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

New England Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) is brought down by Seattle Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe, center, in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

New England Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett, right, is brought down by Seattle Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe, left, in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

New England Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett, right, is sacked by Seattle Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams, center, in front of Patriots guard Michael Jordan, left, in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)