Wizards’ Mahinmi to miss 4 to 6 weeks
The Washington Wizards will start the season without their backup center and highest-paid free agent acquisition, Ian Mahinmi. On Saturday, the team announced that the center underwent surgery Friday night for a partially torn medial meniscus in his left knee. Mahinmi, who signed a four-year, $64 million contract over the summer, is expected to miss approximately four to six weeks. The most optimistic timeline of recovery puts Mahinmi back into action after his 30th birthday (Nov. 5) and at the minimum, nine games into the regular-season schedule (Nov. 12, when Washington will play at Chicago). Mahinmi’s absence creates a void in the front-court depth as the team must turn to 7-footer Jason Smith as the primary backup to starting center Marcin Gortat. Power forward Andrew Nicholson will be in the mix, and big men Daniel Ochefu, a rookie from Baltimore, and Johnny O’Bryant — both of whom have partial, nonguaranteed deals — might also become viable options considering that Washington will have only two legitimate centers (Gortat and Smith).
Ravens activate Onwuasor to help special teams
extended their unbeaten streak to seven games . ... Zack Rockmore scored in the 90th minute to give visiting Bucknell (5-8-2, 2-2-1 Patriot) a 2-1 victory over Navy (3-7-3, 0-4-1). WOMEN’S COLLEGE SOCCER: Freshman Cadie Higginson scored the winning goal in the 106th minute to help visiting Navy (7-8-3, 3-2-1 Patriot) to a 4-3 win over Colgate (5-7-3, 2-4). MEN’S COLLEGE CROSS COUNTRY: Sophomore Nicolas Fransham (North Harford) finished first in the Delaware State Pre-Conference Run in Smyrna, covering in the 8-kilometer course in 25 minutes, 56.50 seconds, two seconds ahead of North Carolina A&T’s Darren White. WOMEN’S COLLEGE CROSS COUNTRY: UMBC senior Sophia Cologer (Broadneck) placed third overall in the Princeton (N.J.) Invitational, completing the 6-kilometer course in 21:24.8, cutting five seconds off her 13th-place time from a year ago at Princeton. Senior Chelsea Vane (Mount Hebron) was the Retrievers’ second-place finisher, in 30th in 22:14. MEN’S COLLEGE LACROSSE: Stevenson will host the Meghan Puls Lacrosse Classic today starting at 8 a.m. to raise money for the Meghan Puls Foundation. Admission is free; a donation of $5 is encouraged. For a schedule, go to meghan pulsfoundation.org. NATIONAL WOMEN’S SOCCER LEAGUE: Washington Spirit defender Caprice Dydasco tore her left ACL during the championship-game loss to Western New York Flash last Sunday. Dydasco, who has had 20 appearances, including 15 starts, in two seasons with the Spirit, will return to her native Hawaii for surgery and rehabilitation. HARNESS RACING: The Maryland Horse Council will host Evening at the Races on Thursday at 6 p.m. at Rosecroft Raceway in Fort Washington. The night will include racing, a tour of the track, a dinner overlooking the finish line and guest speakers, including driver Corey Callahan and thestable.ca creator Anthony MacDonald. Tickets cost $35 for council members and $50 for others. For more information, go to rosecroft.com. —