YSU
YSU Soccer YOUNGSTOWN -- The Youngstown State soccer team (1-17-1, 1-5-1 Horizon League) concluded its season by tying Cleveland State (0-16-1) in a double overtime scoreless dual at Stambaugh Stadium. The Penguins played strong offense throughout the entire game taking a total of nine shots on goal. YSU forward Kara Vezza took five shots as well as three shots on goal. Midfielder Carrie Wack and forward Brittny Humphrey also helped the Penguins offensive efforts each taking four shots on goal. The Penguins outshot the Vikings 22-5 and outnumbered CSU in corner kicks 5-1. YSU's goalkeeper Jessica Yarter collected five saves. Youngstown State will travel to Milwaukee on Thursday for the first round of the Horizon League Tournament as they take on Detroit. AREA Mooney's Burney honored by SVC YOUNGSTOWN -- Mooney High tailback Nate Burney has been named the Steel Valley Conference football player of the week. Burney rushed for 220 yards on 25 carries in Mooney's 38-20 loss to Bishop Watterson. He scored touchdowns on runs of 5 and 35 yards. South Range tickets on sale NORTH LIMA -- Tickets for Friday's football playoff game between Rittman and South Range are on sale at the high school and middle school. Advance sale price is $6, with a percentage going to the South Range Athletic Department. Gate price will be $8. REGION Jackets send Hartigan to AHL COLUMBUS -- The Columbus Blue Jackets sent center Mark Hartigan to their AHL affiliate in Syracuse. The 28-year-old Hartigan scored in the Blue Jackets' 3-2 win over Nashville on Wednesday night that snapped the Predators' eight-game winning streak to start the season. He also had a shootout goal in a 2-1 win over Minnesota on Friday. Hartigan was leading the Crunch with two goals and three assists in three games when he was recalled to Columbus on Oct. 18. He led Syracuse last year with 31 goals. NATION Fire wins WASHINGTON -- By the time Freddy Adu got in the game, Ivan Guerrero had already scored the goals that would end the season for the defending MLS champions. Guerrero scored twice in the first half, and Zack Thornton extended his own MLS record with his 13th playoff shutout Sunday to lead the Chicago Fire to a 4-0 victory over D.C. United. Jack Stewart and Jesse Marsch also scored for the Fire, who led 3-0 at halftime. The victory, which followed a scoreless draw in the first leg of the home-and-home series, puts the Fire in the Eastern Conference final at New England next Sunday. Weis inks 10-year pact INDIANAPOLIS -- A day after signing a new 10-year contract, first-year coach Charlie Weis said he intended to stay at Notre Dame a long time from the very beginning. "It is important when you are doing things like this to set your priorities," said Weis, who originally signed a five-year contract. "What is the most important thing? For those that know me, they know the more important thing to me is my family and being true to your word. I have been both good to my family and true to my word at the same time without this being about money." There had been speculation that the former offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots would be a top NFL coaching prospect after his success with the Fighting Irish this season. No. 8 Notre Dame is 5-2. Weis said he wanted to show respect for his alma mater. "This isn't just any job for me," he said. "When I came here, the thought of people thinking that I was here for a short time fix, those type of things do affect me. It is very important for me to be loyal to this university." Weis said he wanted to address rumors about the NFL so recruits wouldn't have to guess his intentions. "By that being out there, it allowed that uncertainty to be there," Weis said. Now you know who you are going to play for your entire college career. It erases that uncertainty and actually, it flips that uncertainty to a strong plus as far as Notre Dame and Charlie Weis are concerned." Bruschi plays FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi started against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night, less than nine months after a stroke put his playing career in jeopardy. Bruschi shared a tackle on the second play from scrimmage and then helped slow down Bills receiver Roscoe Parish for a 6-yard loss on a reverse. Each mention of his name over the public address system drew enthusiastic cheers. Bruschi, 32, hasn't played since suffering a minor stroke three days after the Pro Bowl in February and 10 days after helping the Patriots win their third Super Bowl in four years. Although he said he would take a year off, he was put on the reserve-physically unable to perform list, which left open the possibility of his return after the sixth week of the season. He continued to attend team meetings and his recovery went well enough for him to come back early. Doctors cleared him, he returned practice Oct. 19 and was activated Saturday. Vindicator staff/wire reports