SPORTS DIGEST || YSU’s Schlegel earns preseason all-Horizon

YSU’s Schlegel earns preseason all-Horizon

YOUNGSTOWN

Youngstown State senior forward Heidi Schlegel has been named preseason first team All-Horizon League by College Sports Madness in the website’s conference preview.

Schlegel, who was a first-team all-conference pick a year ago, is among the Horizon League’s top four returning players in points per game, rebounds per game, field-goal percentage and free-throw percentage. The Wapakoneta, Ohio, native averaged career highs of 20 points and eight rebounds in 2013-14 while setting school records for points by a junior and free throws made.

Penguins beat Niagara to start dual slate

Youngstown

The Youngstown State swimming and diving team posted wins in every event as the Penguins opened the dual season with a 166-120 win over Niagara. Ashley Dow and Madison Aranda won three events while Jana Janson , Viktoria Orosz, Kolbrun Jonsdottir and freshman diver McKenzie Stetler each won two events against the Purple Eagles.

Dow opened the meet by picking up a win in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 59.10 seconds. She took first place in the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 2:08.75 and won her third event of the day winning the 200 IM with a time of 2:14.92. In the 1,650 freestyle, Aranda cruised to the win with a time of 17:46.61. She picked up her second win of the dual with a time of 2:09.91 and earned her third win in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 59.82 seconds.

United clinch Eastern title with win over Fire

WASHINGTON

Chris Pontius and Eddie Johnson scored and D.C. United beat the Chicago Fire 2-1 on Saturday night.

United (17-9-7) stretched its unbeaten streak to five games, clinching first place in the Eastern Conference — and the biggest single-season turnaround in MLS history, rebounding from last year’s 24-loss season.

United opened the scoring at the 31-minute mark when Pontius headed a perfect cross from Eddie Johnson past Kyle Renish into the lower left corner. It was Pontius’ first goal after missing most of the season due to injury.

Johnson added to the total in the 53rd minute, forcing a turnover in the Chicago end and firing a shot to upper left corner for his seventh goal of the season.

Harrison Shipp scored his seventh for Chicago (5-10-18) in the 67th minute. The Fire are winless in eight matches.

Bruins’ Milan Lucic apologizes for gesture

BUFFALO, N.Y.

Boston forward Milan Lucic apologized to the Bruins and Montreal Canadiens and their fans Saturday for making an obscene gesture Thursday night in Montreal.

Lucic took a penalty late in the Bruins’ loss and made a gesture toward the fans, followed by one of him raising an invisible Stanley Cup. In his first public comments since the incident that cost him a $5,000 fine, he expressed regret and called his actions selfish and inexcusable.

“Obviously, not proud of what I did there,” Lucic said after the Bruins’ morning skate at First Niagara Center. “Just want to apologize to our organization for embarrassing the Bruins’ organization. Also want to apologize to our fans and also apologize to the Montreal Canadiens’ organization and to the Canadiens’ fans. I know they can get under your skin sometimes, but they are great fans.”

Perez scores to lead FC Dallas past Colorado

COMMERCE CITY, Colo.

Blas Perez scored his team-leading 11th goal of the season to help FC Dallas beat the Colorado Rapids 1-0 on Saturday.

Dallas (16-11-6) moved past Real Salt Lake into third place in the Western Conference with its first road victory since Aug. 16 at San Jose. Real Salt Lake tied Portland 0-0 on Friday night.

Perez scored a penalty kick goal in the 56th minute after Colorado’s Chris Klute was called for a handball inside the penalty area.

Staff/wire reports