Published:Monday, November 17, 2008 10:56 AM PST
Serving the South Coast of Oregon

Sports Briefs: Portland women advance
Monday, November 17, 2008 10:56 AM PST

PORTLAND — Danielle Foxhoven and Sophie Schmidt each scored a goal as second-seeded Portland defeated Texas 2-0 Sunday in the second round of the NCAA Division I women’s soccer playoffs on Sunday.

With the win, Portland ran its all-time record against Texas to 9-0, including six victories in the last six years. The Pilots advanced to the third round of the NCAA playoffs for the ninth year in a row.

After two early near misses, the Pilots managed to break through in the game’s 11th minute. The play started when a 15-yard shot by Schmidt that was deflected away by Texas goalkeeper Dianna Pfenninger. But the ball caromed to Foxhoven, who was left unchecked, and she made the wide-open shot into the left corner of the net.

Texas managed only one shot in 20th minute of the second half and it was not on goal. The Pilots got the insurance goal they needed on a penalty kick by Schmidt with 10:22 left in the contest.

Next up for Portland will be James Madison, which beat a favored Wake Forest team 1-0 on Sunday.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Syracuse fires coach

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Syracuse coach Greg Robinson was fired Sunday with the Orange nearing the end of a fourth straight dismal season under his leadership.

Robinson will coach the final two games of this season. He is 9-35 in three-plus seasons at Syracuse and 3-23 in the Big East. He has another year left on a contract that paid him $1.1 million per season.

Syracuse (2-8, 1-5) lost to Connecticut 39-14 Saturday night and is trying to avoid a third 10-loss campaign under Robinson.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Beaver has 10 3-pointers

CORVALLIS — Talisa Rhea set a new Pacific-10 Conference record for 3-pointers with 10 Sunday in Oregon State’s 100-45 win against Sacramento State in Gill Coliseum.

Rhea, a 5-foot-10 sophomore guard, set the new mark with a shot from the top of the key with 1:55 remaining. The previous record was held by Molly Goodenbour of Stanford in a game against Tennessee in 1992.

Rhea finished with 42 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals.

TENNIS

Djokovic wins title

SHANGHAI, China — Third-ranked Novak Djokovic won the Masters Cup for the first time by defeating Russian Nikolay Davydenko 6-1, 7-5 in the season-ending final.

It’s the Serb’s first title since winning the Rome Masters in May, leaving him 10 points behind second-ranked Roger Federer in the rankings.

AUTO RACING

Pedregon takes title

POMONA, Calif. — Cruz Pedregon won his second NHRA Funny Car season championship, and first in 16 years, with a victory Sunday in the season-ending Auto Club NHRA Finals in Southern California.

Eddie Krawiec won his first POWERade Series crown in Pro Stock Motorcycle, and did so without winning a race during the season. He joined Rob Bruins, the 1979 Top Fuel champ, as the only drivers in NHRA history to win a season title without earning an individual race victory.

After Pedregon won his first-round meeting against Jerry Toliver, he secured the title when his two closest challengers lost in the first round. Season-long leader Tim Wilkerson fouled against John Force, and Robert Hight lost to Pedregon’s brother, Tony.

Pedregon then drove his Advance Auto Parts Toyota Solara to his third straight event victory to close out the six-race Countdown to 1, NHRA’s Playoffs. He beat Ron Capps in the final round for his 26th career win and second at his home track.

Larry Dixon raced to his second win of the season in Top Fuel, holding off Rod Fuller in the final round.

Greg Anderson claimed his sixth Pro Stock victory of the season in a Pontiac GXP when Kurt Johnson fouled at the start in his Chevy Cobalt.

Chris Rivas continued his hot streak in Pro Stock Motorcycle by winning his third race in a row, defeating newly crowned season champ Krawiec in the final round.


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