Spain routs Canada 18-8 in women's Olympic water polo quarterfinal

Canada is out of medal contention in women's Olympic water polo and will play a final match Thursday in Paris to determine its placing in the tournament.

Spain, which topped its group with a 4-0 record in the preliminary round, scored six goals in the first quarter on Tuesday and cruised to a 18-8 victory at La Defense Arena in Nanterre, France.

The Spaniards will play Italy or the Netherlands in semifinal action on Thursday.

They will be looking to book a pot in their second consecutive Olympic final after losing 14-5 to the United States and capturing a silver medal three years ago in Tokyo.

WATCH | Canadia eliminated from medal contention after loss to Spain:

The Canadian women, who were 1-3 in the preliminary round in France, have never played a semifinal match at the Olympics.

They were seventh in the 2021 tournament.

Verica Bakoc paced Canada's offence on Tuesday with five goals. Rae Lekness, Elyse Lemay-Lavoie and team captain Emma Wright also scored.