Southern Cal Shuts Out FSU for Women's Soccer Title

Marihelen Tomer and Janessa Currier each scored goals as Southern California beat Florida State, 2-0, yesterday in College Station, Tex., to win its first NCAA Women's College Cup.

The Trojans (20-3-2) had never advanced past the second round of the NCAA tournament before this season. Ali Khosroshahin is the first coach to win it all in his first season.

The Trojans took the title with their fifth shutout of the tournament and 16th in 25 games this season. This one was the most impressive of all -- the Seminoles led the nation with 81 goals this season.

Florida State (18-6-3), playing in its third consecutive College Cup, was shut out for just the second time this season. The Seminoles were also playing in the championship game for the first time, a big step for a program that has only existed since 1995.

¿ AUTO RACING: Brazilian stock car racer Rafael Sperafico was killed in an accident yesterday during the Sao Paulo Grand Prix in Brazil. The 26-year-old lost control of his car on the sixth lap, slamming into the tire wall and bouncing back onto the track. His car was then struck by the car driven by Rentao Russo, who was in serious but stable condition with head injuries.

Sperafico died from massive head injuries followed by cardiac-respiratory failure, physician Dino Altman said in an interview on television.

¿ COLLEGE FOOTBALL: South Carolina football player Jordin Lindsey had his neck slashed during an altercation near the school campus in Columbia, S.C., police said.

Lindsey, a defensive end who did not play this season because of low grades, was cut early Saturday morning by a man wielding a sharp object, possibly a broken bottle, a police report said.

Lindsey's father, Billy Lindsey, said his son needed surgery but was to be released from the hospital yesterday, according to a report posted online by the (Columbia) State newspaper.

¿ SKIING: Austria's Benjamin Raich won the World Cup slalom in Bad Kleinkirchheim, Austria, for his first victory of season. He completed the steep Franz Klammer course in a combined time of 1 minute 34.46 seconds. . . .

Austria's Nicole Hosp raced to her first women's World Cup slalom victory of the season, beating Finland's Tanja Poutiainen by 1.19 seconds in Aspen, Colo. Hosp had a two-run time of 1:34.36 on Ruthie's Run. Resi Stiegler was the top U.S. finisher, placing eighth in 1:37.07.

¿ BASEBALL: Outfielder Milton Bradley and the Texas Rangers reached a preliminary agreement on a one-year contract worth just more than $5 million. . . .

The New York Yankees reached a preliminary agreement on a one-year, $3.75 million contract with right-hander LaTroy Hawkins.

¿ COLLEGE BASKETBALL: David N. Arseneault broke the NCAA assists record when he had 34 in Grinnell College's 151-112 win over North Central University of Minnesota in a Division III game Saturday.

¿ HIGH SCHOOLS: Josh Selby had 16 points, 13 rebounds and 4 assists as No. 4 DeMatha beat Baltimore's second-ranked team, Towson Catholic, 63-59, at Wise High. Marcus Rouse scored 17 for the Stags (3-0), making five-pointers. Donte Green led Towson Catholic (1-2) with 19 points.

-- From News Services and Staff Reports