SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) – Team handball hardly is a mainstream American sport, so winning a medal at any international event is an achievement. When the United States beat Uruguay 25-23 Monday, it was reason to celebrate with Pan American Games bronze.

Goalie Danny Hennessey swatted away five penalty shots for the Americans.

“Never would I imagine that I’d go 5-for-5 in any game, let alone the bronze medal game,” the New York City police officer. “I couldn’t be more happy, and ultimately it was the deciding factor in the game.”

Hennessey replaced starter Italo Zanzi with 12 minutes to go in the second half with the Americans ahead by three goals. He was supported offensively by the Fitzgerald brothers of North Babylon, N.Y. Joe Fitzgerald, a 1996 Olympian, had five goals, and Tom, also a 1996 Olympic veteran, scored four.

“Italo did a great job setting the pace and I had a feeling about Danny since yesterday,” coach Christian Zaharia said. “I felt that he was pumped up to win the bronze medal, and as a coach you have to go with your gut feeling, but it’s the team who is the hero.

“We believed in the bronze medal and played like a team that wanted to win gold. That made all the difference.”

The difference for Brazil in its 31-30, double-overtime victory for the gold medal was

Gustavo Sliva’s goal with 25 seconds to go. Brazil was third in the last three Pan Ams.

“Finally we won,” said Brazilian Daniel Baldacin. “This is a historic result for us.”

It was also Brazil’s first victory over Argentina in more than two years.

It was a rugged day for U.S. boxers, who went 0-for-3.

Light flyweight Rayonta Whitfield of Augusta, Ga., lost 16-8 to 2001 world champion Yan Bartelemy of Cuba.

“Once I knew I was stronger than him, I got away from my game plan and started following him around the ring,” Whitfield said. “I knew I could overpower him and I lost focus on what I was doing.”

Lightweight Karl Dargan of Philadelphia got off to a strong start against Francisco Javier Vargas of Mexico, using his jab and movement to take a 12-8 lead into the third round. But he tired badly and lost on a late flurry, 19-18.

Light heavyweight Rommel Rene of Orlando, Fla., was beaten 12-5 by Mexico’s Ramiro Reducindo.

The United States finished first and third in the women’s 30-kilometer time trial. Kim Bruckner of Boulder, Colo., took the gold.

, 38 seconds ahead of Clara Hughes of Canada. Kristin Armstrong of Boise, Idaho, got the bronze.

Jose Serpa of Colombia edged Chris Baldwin of Boulder to win the men’s 50-kilometer time trial.

AP-ES-08-11-03 1946EDT