YSU

Sunday, August 20, 2006 YSU Women's soccer WHEELING, W.Va. — Sophomore forward Carrie Wack scored three goals as the Youngstown State soccer team tied Division II Wheeling Jesuit 3-3 in an exhibition game on Friday night. Wheeling Jesuit opened the scoring 20 minutes into the contest. Wack scored her first goal at the 35-minute mark to tie the game. The Penguins grabbed a lead early in the second half as Wack found the back of the net for the second time in the game. However, the Cardinals answered with two scores to pull ahead 3-2. Wack scored the equalizer with 10 minutes remaining and the contest concluded in a 3-3 tie. Coach Anthony James said he was pleased with the Penguins' performance, but much work still needs to be done prior to the season opener next Friday at Robert Morris. "We experimented with a few things that worked and tried some other things that didn't work," James said. "There were moments in the game where we were in total control, then there were other times we were too relaxed. I am happy to get this first scrimmage out of the way and look forward to our second exhibition against Slippery Rock on Sunday." The Penguins will play host to the Rock on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Stambaugh Stadium. LOCAL HitMen tryouts BOARDMAN — The Mahoning Valley HitMen, a member of the Eastern Indoor Football League, will hold open tryouts today in the back conference room at Jillian's at the Southern Park Mall. Registration is at 11 a.m. Cost is $100. Tryouts will follow immediately after registration at a nearby indoor site. HitMen general manager Jim Terry is not releasing the name of the tryout site. For details, call (330) 519-3209. The HitMen are still looking for a place to play games when the season starts this winter. Terry, who is also the team's coach, said the team has a few options in the Mahoning Valley, but has started looking at sites in the Akron area as well. "I've visited several arenas in the Akron area that desperately want this," he said. "But we're still eager to keep it here." Terry said the EIFL has five teams and a sixth is close to joining the first-year league. There are six players listed on the HitMen roster: WR/DB Zach Guerrieri; DL/OL/FB Antone Himes; QB Ray Morrow; RB P.J. Mays; LB/WR/DB James Prince; OL David Yurkovich. He said the team is close to signing former YSU quarterback Ray Isaac. Terry also said the team has sold more than 600 "Free Mo" T-shirts, which show running back Maurice Clarett in his jail-issued clothing. "It started as a joke, something to throw support behind him," said Terry. "I think I've been on more TV stations because of the T-shirts than the team. We've gotten calls from here to Beijing, China." The shirts, which are sold on the team's Web site (www.mvhitmen), cost $16.50. "There are a lot of fraternities in Michigan and Wisconsin that have been buying them," said Terry. Mercer Raceway MERCER, Pa. — Mercer Raceway Park completed the 20th event of the season, beating the rain Friday night in a big six-division program. Winners were Rodney Phillips-Steel-Block Late Models, Kevin Hoffman-American Racer/Lias Tire Modifieds, Bob McCann-E-Mods, Mike Pegher, Jr.-Tire Express Stock Cars, Brian Woodhall-Mod Lites, and Bryan Wagner-Maurer's Trading Post Strictly Stocks. Sharon Speedway HARTFORD, Ohio — Rain forced cancellation of Saturday's racing at Sharon Speedway. REGION Pitt practice PITTSBURGH — The defense dominated play at the start of training camp for the University of Pittsburgh. In recent days, however, the offense appears to be making progress. The running backs gained 136 yards on the ground and the quarterbacks threw for 297 yards in the Panthers' second intrasquad scrimmage Saturday at the UPMC Sports Complex. "I was real pleased how we moved the ball," Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt said. "The disappointing thing was that we turned it over when we had opportunities to score. But you have to give the defense credit for that, too." Starting quarterback Tyler Palko was 10-for-19 for 115 yards and one interception. Sophomore Bill Stull, who just had pins removed from his hand, was 12-for-19 for 145 yards and one badly thrown pick. Each was sacked once. Freshman Kevan Smith completed just 3 of 8 passes, but one went for a touchdown to third-string fullback Chris Bova from 10 yards out. "We've never been short of talent," Palko said. "We, obviously, don't have any Heisman Trophy winners, but we've got guys who can play." Starting tailback LaRod Stephens-Howling ran for 42 yards and one touchdown on seven carries with a long run of 17 yards. Freshmen Shane Brooks and Kevin Collier added 29 and 27 yards, respectively, with one score each. NATION Notre Dame investigates athletes SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Notre Dame is investigating whether athletes, including football and basketball players, violated NCAA rules with comments promoting a local sports talk show on a CBS affiliate. John Heisler, Notre Dame's senior associate athletic director, said the school has not seen the spots, promoting "Sports Dogz" on WSBT-TV in South Bend. "We're just trying to figure out what this is," he said. "I don't know if we know for sure it's an NCAA violation." In past situations when an athlete did not know he was breaking an NCAA rule the infraction was deemed a secondary violation. Football coach Charlie Weis said he is depending on Notre Dame's compliance officer to determine whether any rules were violated. "I'll just let them go ahead and deal with it," he said. "But I feel it will be taken care of very quickly." Rice to retire with 49ers SAN FRANCISCO — Receiver Jerry Rice will retire as a member of the San Francisco 49ers next week. Vindicator staff/wire reports