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RIO DE JANEIRO -- In back-to-back games, the U.S. women were within range of upset wins over Australia and New Zealand, the two leading contenders for the first rugby sevens gold medal ever awarded at the Olympics.By the end of an eventful Sunday, though, the semifinal pairings reflected the status quo in womens sevens with the top four teams in the world series vying for medals.World series winner Australia rebounded from a surprising 12-12 draw with the United States in the last game of the pool stage to trounce Spain 24-0 and set up a semifinal match against Canada, which rallied to beat France 15-5 in the quarterfinals.Britain advanced 26-7 over Fiji and then watched as semifinal opponent New Zealand struggled to put away the Americans 5-0, the only points coming from a try by world series try-scoring leader Portia Woodman just before halftime.I told them that they were true Olympians. They represented USA really, really well, U.S. womens coach Richie Walker said of his squad. We played the No. 1 and No. 2 nations in the world today but I saw no fear. We hung with the best in the world. We drew with the No. 1 and we just lost by five points to the No. 2.The Americans lost 12-7 to Fiji in their opening game Saturday, adding to the pressure on them in the last Pool A match to beat Australia on Sunday. Winger Jessica Jevelet scored two tries to give the Americans a 12-5 lead going into the last minute, but Emma Tonegato reached over to score her second try of the match for the Aussies and Chloe Dalton converted after the full-time siren for a draw.Jevelet was again in the thick of it against New Zealand. The Americans had a scoring opportunity shut down with three minutes to go when Jevelet was tackled late as she attempted to chase a kick into the in-goal that could have leveled the game. Tylia Nathan-Wong was yellow carded and sent from the field, but the New Zealanders survived unscathed.The U.S. and New Zealand squads played practice matches against each other in Florida leading up to the Olympics, and the Americans obviously picked up some intel.They didnt play us this hard in Florida. It was a nice surprise, and hard, Woodman said. We made it hard for ourselves, not playing to our strengths, getting a bit too ahead of ourselves, and wanting to score on the first phase when we needed to play three or four.But were in medal contention, so (were) excited.The Americans will have to settle for playing in classification matches for fifth-eighth places along with the other quarterfinal losers.It probably hurts right now because theyre out of medal contention, but still we have something to fight for, Walker said. We want to finish No. 5.Thats the best day rugby-wise, not results-wise, that Ive ever seen from the girls. So Im really proud.Australia coach Tim Walsh said the Americans gave his team the kick up the pants that we needed going into the quarterfinals, where Charlotte Caslick scored twice and Tonegato added another to each increase their tournament tallies to six, equal with Woodman.The top three teams from the sevens world series appeared more vulnerable on Sunday than Britain, a team containing 11 members of the England team which placed fourth in the world series. The British won all three group games comfortably, including a 24-0 victory over Canada, and outscored Fiji four tries to one.The Canadians entered as the likely bronze medalists, but now face Australia in the semifinals -- which doesnt entirely bother them. Canada beat the Australians to win the last stop on the world series last season and nudge ahead of England for third place.The Olympics are a whole new thing for us and were still kind of getting used to that, Canada back Bianca Farella said. 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VAL DISERE, France -- Ilka Stuhecs stunning start to the World Cup ski season is a family affair.After winning the downhill in Val dIsere on Saturday -- her third downhill win and fourth victory overall -- she praised the person who looks after her skis.Its my mum, Stuhec said. Shes preparing my skis, which she does the best.Stuhec planned to make a couple of calls before getting some rest, as she prepares for a super-G here on Sunday.I will just call my sister and my dad and that will be it, she said. Then I will just turn off my phone, otherwise it will go crazy again.Race winners in the French Alpine resort are traditionally offered a cow, which they get to name.Stuhec will name her cow Isa (pronounced Isha).My dogs name, Stuhec explained. We had to euthanize (the dog) one week ago. Thats why Im crying now.Before this year, Stuhecs best World Cup finish was fourth in a super-G in 2013.Over the summer, frustrated by insufficient support from the Slovenian ski federation, she took matters into her own hands.I needed to make a huge step and make my own team, she said. It was really hard at the beginning. We did get some support from the federation, but for sure I hoped for more.She sensed her fortunes were turning for the better just before her breakthrough weekend in Lake Louise this month, when she won both downhill races and placed fifth in a super-G.I had this weird feeling, like `Its time, she said. I felt really confident. Its working, I guess.It certainly is.Stuhecs latest success followed her win on Friday in an Alpine combined. She was up to third in the overall World Cup standings.On the Oreiller-Killy course bathed in morning sunshine, Stuhec finished .28 seconds ahead of Austrian Cornelia Huetter and .32 clear of Italian Soffia Goggia, who iss also enjoying a breakthrough season.ddddddddddddGoggia also had a career best of fourth before this season, and now has six podiums in eight races. She was also third on Friday, and strengthened her grip on second in the overall, 31 points behind American slalom specialist Mikaela Shiffrin.Everyone asks me about the overall, but actually its not my goal, Goggia said. Maybe when I was a child and I was dreaming about having this crystal globe in my hands.Still, Goggia is confident that she can turn her podium finishes into wins.I still havent found my limit yet on the downhill, she said. I have more to give.Three Italians, including two sisters, completed the top six: Nadia Fanchini was fourth, then Johanna Schnarf and Elena FanchiniBut the day belonged to Stuhec as she accelerated away on the bottom section to beat Huetter, who has 10 career podiums.After crossing the line, Stuhec put her hands over her face and then sank onto her back, shaking her head in disbelief.It was a surprise for me. Coming down and seeing the No. 1 (on the screen), Stuhec said. I thought Id made too many mistakes.Meanwhile, defending World Cup overall champion Lara Gut of Switzerland failed to finish for the second straight race, skiing off course after losing balance on the top section.There are days when you feel well and you ski well, and there are some when you just cannot bring it all together, said Gut, who explained that a bump on the course led to her mishap. Thats how it goes.Gut came here with a great chance of overtaking Shiffrin, but remains 105 points behind and has dropped down to fourth overall.She needs to score big points on Sunday. ' ' '