US water polo team reaches semifinals

Three goals by Maggie Steffens gave the U.S. team a three-goal lead in the fourth quarter Friday and they held on for an 8-7 water polo win over China. The outcome left the Americans in second place at the end of group play and put them in the semifinals next Tuesday against Group B winner Australia. The other semifinal will send Spain against Russia. A goal by Brenda Villa 30 seconds into the fourth quarter gave the United States a 6-3 lead, but the Chinese made it close by scoring three goals in a span of less than four minutes. Australia completed it unbeaten run through Group B with an 11-8 win over Russia.