A goal by midfielder Randee Hermus in the 56th minute of play last night gave the Canadian women's soccer team a 2-1 victory over Brazil in an international friendly at Ottawa. Hermus, of Langley, B.C., scored from a corner kick for her second match-winning goal in as many games as Canada rallied from an early deficit before a crowd of 18,079 at Frank Clair Stadium.
Forward Kara Lang of Oakville scored in the first half after Cristiane had give the Brazilians the lead just seven minutes into the match.
Austria eliminates Canada from Fed Cup
Vanessa Webb and Sonya Jeyaseelan won their Fed Cup doubles match yesterday to give Canada its only victory in a 4-1 loss to Austria at Neudorfl, Austria. Maureen Drake and Marie-Eve Pelletier lost their singles matches earlier in the day and Canada, seeking to make it back to the World Group for the first time since 1994, will return to the Americas Zone Group 1 for 2004. Drake, from Toronto, fell 7-5, 2-6, 6-1 to Barbara Schett. Pelletier, from Repentigny, Que., got off to a quick start for the second straight match, but was unable to hold on as she was stopped 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-3 by Patricia Wartusch. In the doubles match, Toronto's Webb and Jeyaseelan defeated Evelyn Fauth and Sybille Bammer 7-5, 6-3.
Karl won't return as Milwaukee Bucks coach
George Karl will not return next year as coach of the Milwaukee Bucks after a season in which they lost in the first round of the playoffs. General manager Larry Harris said yesterday it was best for the team that Karl not come back, but he declined to say whether Karl was fired or resigned. Harris would not say whether Karl wanted a contract extension, but he said they talked for hours yesterday. Karl had one year left on his two-year contract and was expected to make an NBA-record $7 million US. Harris said the team will honour his contract. In five seasons, Karl had a 205-173 record and led the Bucks to four playoff appearances. The only Milwaukee coaches to win more games are Don Nelson (540) and Larry Costello (410).
Thorpedo sinks competition at world swims
Ian Thorpe is still unbeatable in the 400-metre freestyle. The Australian Thorpedo comfortably won the first swimming gold medal of the world championships yesterday in Barcelona. Thorpe finished in three minutes, 42.58 seconds, more than a length ahead of countryman Grant Hackett in 3:45.17. Hannah Stockbauer of Germany won the women's 400 freestyle, while Russia and the U.S. won the men's and women's 400 freestyle relays. Thorpe is the first swimmer to win three straight world titles in the same event. His ninth gold medal also made him the first man to win that many in the world championships.
Earth Voyager first to reach Mackinac Island
Earth Voyager was the first to cross the finish line yesterday afternoon in the annual Port Huron to Mackinac sailboat race. The Rochester, N.Y.-based trimaran, which in years past has been the first to reach Mackinac Island, crossed the finish line at 1:44 p.m. EDT, the Bayview Yacht Club reported.
