• Pro soccer coming to Hawaii • Sorenstam charges; Wie finishes 13th • USC extends lead Pro soccer coming to Hawaii HONOLULU — A professional soccer match will be played in Hawaii next year for the first time in nearly
• Pro soccer coming to Hawaii
• Sorenstam charges; Wie finishes 13th
• USC extends lead
Pro soccer coming to Hawaii
HONOLULU — A professional soccer match will be played in Hawaii next year for the first time in nearly three decades.
Major League Soccer’s D.C. United will face the Los Angeles Galaxy in the “Aloha Soccer Cup,” preseason match at Aloha Stadium on Feb. 25, organizers said.
The event, hosted by the Hawaii High School Athletic Association, the L.A. Galaxy and the Hawaii Soccer Federation, is the first pro competition since 1977 when Team Hawaii played.
“The event will only increase the already high interest in soccer in Hawaii because it will expose our younger players to the highest level of talent,” HHSAA executive director Keith Amemiya said.
About 30,000 Hawaii youth are currently playing in soccer leagues around the islands.
“It’s inspiring and you get to see the level of play and compare yourself to them,” said Katrina Chong, a junior on Hilo High’s soccer team.
Brian Ching, of the San Jose Earthquakes, said he wishes he had the opportunity to see professional soccer growing up in Hawaii.
“The game allows them to see how fast it really is and how physical it really is,” Ching said. “You don’t get the true reality of the game when you’re watching TV.”
The Galaxy and United will participate in weeklong closed-session training camps in Hawaii before the match.
Sorenstam charges; Wie finishes 13th
PALM DESERT, Calif. — A classic charge by Annika Sorenstam.
Three shots behind Grace Park with five holes to go, six-time LPGA player of the year Sorenstam rallied with an eagle, birdie and three pars to win her fourth Samsung World Championship by three shots over Park on Sunday.
“Today, it was up to me to do something,” said Sorenstam, who shot a 5-under 67 to finish 18 under. “It was a wonderful day, to summarize it.
“This is special, to come from behind. You’ve got the 20 best players in the world and you’ve got to really play some good golf.”
Amateur Michelle Wie, who turned 15 last Monday, had a 70 to tie for 13th with Jennifer Rosales at 5 under.
“It could have been a lot better,” Wie said of her play during the tournament. “I had a lot of fun and now it’s back to the books (in Honolulu).”
USC extends lead
On the eve of the season’s first Bowl Championship Series standings, No. 1 Southern California increased its lead on No. 2 Oklahoma in The Associated Press Top 25 on Sunday.
Auburn slipped ahead of Miami to No. 3 in the media poll for the first time this season.
USC received 50 first-place votes and 1,610 points and now leads Oklahoma by 43 points.
The Sooners received 13 first-place votes, down 10 from last week, and 1,567 points. Oklahoma beat Kansas State 31-21.
No. 3 Auburn received the remaining two first-place votes and slipped by No. 4 Miami after the Hurricanes had to rally for a 41-38 victory over Louisville last Thursday. The Tigers were 30 points ahead of Miami.
Florida State is No. 5, and Wisconsin is sixth after winning a battle of unbeatens at Purdue.
