U.S. men's water polo team has to settle for silver

BEIJING -- The U.S. men's water polo team claimed the silver medal Sunday after losing to Hungary, 14-10, in the gold medal match.

Tony Azevedo, a three-time Olympian from Long Beach, led the U.S. offense with four goals while Layne Beaubien of Coronado added a pair.

It is the third men's water polo silver medal for the U.S. team and the first since the Seoul 1988 Olympic Games. It also is the sixth men's medal won by the United States (silver in 1984, 1988 and 2008 and bronze in 1924, 1932 and 1972).

The silver finalizes the medal count for Team USA at the Beijing Games with 110, the most it has won at a full-participation Olympic Games, according to the U.S. Olympic Committee. The 36 gold medals won by the United States matches the number received at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.

-- Debbie Goffa

Photo: Tony Azevedo gets to the ball before Tamas Kasas of Hungary during the gold medal match. Credit: Daniel Dal Zennaro / EPA