YSU

YSU

Dorian Chenault nabs
Horizon League honor

YOUNGSTOWN — Penguin free safety Dorian Chenault was named the Horizon League defensive player of the week.

In YSU’s 42-6 win over Stony Brook, Chenault was credited with five tackles and added a forced fumble and an interception.

A graduate of Canton McKinley, the 6-1, 200-pound Chenault led a Penguin defense that limited the Seawolves to just two field goals.

Entering the contest, the Seawolves were averaged more than 40 points a game and had scored 12 touchdowns.

LOCAL

Steel Valley Conf.
recognizes Zordich

YOUNGSTOWN — In a 49-0 win over Warren Harding Saturday, Cardinal Mooney’s Mike Zordich rushed for 76 yards and a touchdown.

For his efforts, Zordich was named the Steel Valley Conference player of the week.

Zordich had a 65-yard run and contributed 16 tackles.

He is a Penn State recruit.

Phantoms complete
preseason games

WAYNE, N.J. — The Mahoning Valley Phantoms ended their exhibition season with a 3-0 victory over the Boston Junior Bruins Sunday at the Jersey Hitmen Showcase.

Due to an aggressive forecheck, the Phantoms were able to jump out to a 2-0 lead after the first period.

Spencer Jordan and Scott Moser each capitalized on Bruin turnovers right in front of their own net.

The second period was marred by penalties, but despite over a dozen separate power play opportunities for both teams, there was only one goal.

That score came off the stick of Phantoms rookie forward Zack Barbis, deflecting home a Trent Bonnet shot from the blue line.

Goaltender Mark Lee turned aside 23 shots en route to the shut-out in his first start in a Phantom uniform.

With a 3-0 preseason record, the Phantoms now hit the road for the NAHL Showcase in Blaine, Minn. to open up regular season.

The Phantoms play a game per day, from Wednesday to Saturday, and open up against the Southern Minnesota Express Wednesday afternoon at 4:15 p.m. EDT.

The action will be available at www.mvpphantoms.com.

NATION

Phoenix beats Detroit
for WNBA title

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — The tattoo on Cappie Pondexter’s left arm was inked when she was still in high school. It features the WNBA logo, and reads “The Future.”

That future is now for Pondexter and the Phoenix Mercury, who beat the Detroit Shock 108-92 on Sunday and wrapped up their first league title in the deciding Game 5 of the championship series.

A fast start helped Phoenix become the first team in the WNBA’s 11-year history to claim the title on the road. Pondexter, in her second year in the league, scored 26 points and was chosen as the series MVP.

“It’s been a long time coming,” said Pondexter, who lost the NCAA title game in her senior year at Rutgers. “It’s something I’ve been waiting for, working hard for, and it’s finally here.”

Penny Taylor scored 30 points and Diana Taurasi had 17 for the Mercury.

The Shock lost the last two games of the series, ending their bid to win back-to-back titles. Detroit also won the champion in 2003.

“This is an unfamiliar position — being up here without a bottle of champagne,” Detroit coach Bill Laimbeer said as he opened his postgame news conference. “We got beat by a team that was hungrier.”

Deanna Nolan, who led the Shock with 27 points, said the team’s defense faltered early.

“Them making shots was part of it, but our defense wasn’t there, and we didn’t get key rebounds,” Nolan said.

Phoenix took some steam out of the home crowd, announced at more than 22,000, by spurting to a 20-9 lead midway through the first quarter. Taurasi had eight points, including 2 3-pointers, in that stretch.

“We were due for a great game,” Taurasi said. “Everything we focused on all season kind of came into play.”

The Mercury led by as many as 18 points in the second quarter and led 55-43 at halftime. The teams set a finals scoring record for combined points in a half.

Pondexter had 10 assists Sunday and made several key baskets in the second half to squash any hopes of a Detroit comeback.

Vindicator staff⁄wire reports