RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — The U.S. field hockey men's national team could not recover from an early two-goal deficit in losing Sunday to Cuba, 4-1, in the crossover phase of the Pan American Games.

The loss drops the United States into the seventh-place game against host Brazil on Wednesday. The loss also eliminates the Americans from contending for a spot in one of next year's three Olympic qualifying tournaments. The U.S. needed to place in the top five to earn a qualifier berth.

"Against a dangerous counterattacking team like Cuba, if you fall behind, you make your job twice as hard," said U.S. coach Nick Conway. "Unfortunately, we fell behind two goals really early and then you end up chasing the game."

The U.S. men began the chase virtually from the opening whistle when Yoandy Blanco connected on a penalty corner just four minutes into the game for a 1-0 Cuba advantage. Cuba added to its lead six minutes later when Roberto Lemus knocked in a field goal for a 2-0 lead.

The goal prompted Conway to replace starting goalkeeper Jason Wellings (Thousand Oaks) with Jeb Saez (Thousand Oaks) but Saez too was victimized in the final minutes of the first half when Roger Aguilera scored on a field goal to give Cuba a 3-0 halftime lead.

The United States quickly bounced back in the second half when Pat Harris (Moorpark) slammed in a shot from the middle of the circle to cut the lead to 3-1. The goal was the third for Harris in the tournament.

With its Olympic qualifier hopes ended, the U.S. team will look ahead to the immediate futures and a match with winless Brazil to salvage a seventh-place finish.

"We have to take it on the chin and accept our responsibility," said Conway. "We'll stand tall and live to come back and most importantly, to continue to get better."

Swimming concluded with more gold for the Americans and two more medals — neither gold — for Brazilian star Thiago Pereira.

U.S. swimmers won five gold, two silver and a bronze to bring their medals total to an astounding 38 (19-14-5). The leader of the medals haul was Julia Smit of Mount Sinai, N.Y., who won gold in the 400-meter medley relay — she swam the backstroke leg — and silver behind Teresa Crippen of Conshohocken, Pa., in the 200 backstroke. That gave Smit four golds and a silver for the entire games.

Also on the women's relay that set a games record of 4 minutes, 4.60 seconds, were Michelle McKeehan (Franklin, Ind.), Kathleen Hersey (Atlanta) and Maritz Correia (Valrico, Fla.). Hersey won four golds at Pan Ams, too.

Crippen set a Pan Ams mark with her 2:10.57 in the 200 backstroke.

Randall Bal of Fair Oaks had a big day, too. He won the 100 backstroke in a games record 53.66, edging teammate Peter Marshall of Atlanta. Pereira, who previously broke Mark Spitz's 40-year-old Pan Ams mark with six swimming golds, was third.

Then Bal, Mark Gangloff (Stow, Ohio), Ricky Berens (Charlotte, N.C.) and Andy Grant (Livermore) took the 400 medley relay, with Pereira helping Brazil to silver. The U.S. men beat the Pan Ams record with a 3:34.37.

Caitlin Leverenz of Tucson, Ariz., was the other U.S. winner, taking the women's 200 breast stroke in yet another games record, 2:25.62. Keri Hehn of Fargo, N.D., was third.

Americans swept the podium in equestrian, with Karen O'Connor (The Plains, Va.) and her ride — a pony named Theodore O'Connor — stunningly taking gold. Second was Phillip Dutton (West Grove, Pa.) aboard Truluck, and third was Gina Miles (Daus, Calif.) riding McKinlaigh.

Overall, the United States had 141 medals (58-56-27) for the lead. Cuba was second with 29 golds, while Brazil was second with 85 total medals.

America's women moved to 3-0 in basketball with a 78-63 win over Cuba. Marissa Coleman of Maryland had 19 points and six rebounds, while Angel McCoughtry of Louisville added 13 and five.

An 18-3 rout of Mexico earned the U.S. men's water polo team their second win in Rio. Captain and two-time Olympian Tony Azevedo (Santa Ana), had four goals, two assists, a steal and a block.