U.S. women extend unbeaten streak on Rapinoe’s goal
Megan Rapinoe’s goal off a penalty kick in the 87th minute extended the U.S. women’s national team’s unbeaten streak to 38 matches with a 1-1 draw against Sweden in Stockholm on Saturday.
Lina Hurtig opened the scoring for the Swedes in the 38th minute. The deficit put the U.S. in jeopardy of losing for the first time since a 3-1 setback to France on Jan. 19, 2019, in Le Havre, France — the site of the Americans’ next match on Tuesday.
Kelley O’hara was fouled on the right side of the penalty area by Sofia Jakobsson, although it appeared O’hara was a step outside the box. There was no video review.
Rapinoe scored her 58th international goal after sending the ball under the arm of goalkeeper Jennifer Falk. The draw gave the U.S. a 340-4 mark in the past 38 matches, although the winning streak was snapped at 16 games.
Prior to Rapinoe’s goal, the U.S. was in danger of being shut out for the first time in 67 matches. The Americans are 7-3-6 in the past 16 matches versus Sweden.
Hurtig’s goal ended Alyssa Naeher’s shutout streak at 949 minutes over the past 11 games. The last goal Naeher allowed was in the 79th minute of a 3-2 win vs. Sweden on Nov. 8, 2019.
Hurtig flicked a corner kick by Kosovare Asllani off the right post from six yards for her 11th goal.
Naeher kept the U.S. within striking distance in the first minute of first-half stoppage time. Fridolina Rolfo accepted a feed from Jakobsson and dribbled from the right flank into the box where Naeher denied her with a sprawling save.
The U.S. starting lineup averaged 114 games with six players having 100-plus appearances. No one has more experience than Carli Lloyd, who played her 300th international game. Only Kristine Lilly (354) and Christie Pearce Rampone (311) have played more among the U.S. players — male or female.
Motorsports
RAIN PUSHES NASCAR XFINITY RACE TO SUNDAY >> The NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Martinsville Speedway lasted 91 laps Friday night before rain that delayed the start returned midway through the second stage.
NASCAR postponed the conclusion until today.
Brandon Jones was leading while dueling with Josh Berry when the caution flag flew and, after two laps, it became a red flag as the cars were brought onto pit road and covered. NASCAR deployed a fleet of track drying machines, but the rain continued to fall and lightning was visible at times.
Men’s college basketball
SCOTTY PIPPEN JR. DECLARES FOR NBA DRAFT >> Vanderbilt guard Scotty Pippen Jr. has declared for the NBA draft without signing with an agent to keep his options open.
Pippen announced his intentions with a social media post. He said he was blessed to come to Vanderbilt.
“We all have dreams and I am ready to pursue mine,” Pippen said.
The son of six-time NBA champ and one of the league’s 50 greatest players Scottie Pippen, he ranked second in the Southeastern Conference both in scoring at 20.8 points and with 4.8 assists a game. He ranked 16th nationally in scoring per game.
Coach Jerry Stackhouse said Vanderbilt fully supports Pippen’s decision to check out his draft status.
“He has shown tremendous growth in his time here at Vanderbilt, and his record-setting sophomore season was just a peek at his potential,” Stackhouse said in a statement. WASHINGTON STATE ADDS HIGH-SCORING TRANSFER >> Former South Alabama guard Michael Flowers is transferring to Washington State, giving the Cougars a potent scorer for next season.
Flowers averaged 21.0 points for South Alabama last season, the 15th best scoring average in the country.
The 6-foot-1 senior played three seasons at Western Michigan before transferring to South Alabama ahead of the 2020-21 season.
Washington State finished 14-13 (712 Pac 12) this season and lost leading scorer guard Isaac Bonton, who averaged 17.7 points.
Men’s college hockey
UMASS WINS FIRST NCAA TITLE >> Filip Lindberg had 25 saves, Aaron Bohlinger scored his first career goal, and Massachusetts beat St. Cloud State 5-0 to win the program’s first NCAA title.
Umass (20-5-4), which extended its unbeaten streak to a program-record 14 games, made its third NCAA Tournament appearance. The Minutemen lost 3-0 to Minnesota Duluth — which Umass beat in Thursday’s semifinals — in the 2019 title game. The 2020 Frozen Four was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
David Hrenak had 17 saves for St. Cloud State (20-11-0), which made the program’s first title game appearance.
UFC
VETTORI’S RECORD TAKEDOWNS TOO MUCH FOR HOLLAND >> Marvin Vettori set a UFC middleweight record with 11 takedowns to defeat Kevin Holland via unanimous decision in the main event of the UFC Fight Night matinee in Las Vegas.
While it was a sound victory (5044, 50-44, 50-44,) the Italian champion was left wanting more from his performance.
It was the fifth straight victory for Vettori (17-4-1), who is seeking a rematch with reigning middleweight champion Israel Adesanya.
Horse racing
BLACKMORE FIRST FEMALE JOCKEY TO WIN GRAND NATIONAL >> Rachael Blackmore broke down one of the biggest gender barriers in sports by becoming the first female jockey to win the grueling Grand National horse race.
Blackmore, a 31-year-old Irishwoman, rode Minella Times to victory at odds of 11-1 at Aintree on Saturday in the 173rd running of the famous race at Liverpool.
Female jockeys have only been allowed to enter and race in the National since 1975, when the Sex Discrimination Act was passed.
Blackmore has become the new face of British and Irish horse racing.