RMU women’s hockey falls to Syracuse
The Robert Morris women’s hockey team dropped the first game of a two-game set against Syracuse, 3-1, Friday night at Clearview Arena.
Lexi Templeman scored at 10:29 of the first period on assists by Michaela Boyle and Ellie Marcovsky for the Colonials (13-6-1, 13-6-1 CHA). Syracuse (9-8-1, 7-6-1) has won six in a row.
Templeman now leads Robert Morris with 25 points.
Anna Leschyshyn, Abby Moloughney and Hannah Johnson each scored for the Orange.
Robert Morris closes out the regular season Saturday with one final game against Syracuse.
Tennis
Reigning French Open champion Iga Swiatek is into the Adelaide International final in Australia against second-seeded Belinda Bencic after a 6-3, 6-2 win against Jil Teichmann. Bencic advanced later Friday with a 7-6 (2), 6-7 (4), 6-2 win against American teenager Coco Gauff in 2 hours, 45 minutes. Bencic ended Gauff’s victory streak at five.
Pro football
The Houston Texans released center Nick Martin and running back Duke Johnson. Martin spent his entire career with the Texans after being drafted in the second round in 2016. He missed his rookie season after sustaining an ankle injury. He started every game in each of the past three seasons.
Hockey
Buffalo Sabres captain Jack Eichel is considered day-to-day, and starting goalie Linus Ullmark will miss at least the team’s two-game weekend series against the Philadelphia Flyers.
• The San Jose Sharks returned to practice and are set to play the St. Louis Blues as scheduled Saturday night after having one game postponed because a player tested positive for the coronavirus.
Pro basketball
Kevin Durant will be out through the All-Star break because of a hamstring injury, sidelining the Brooklyn Nets star from a game for which he was chosen to serve as a captain.
• The Toronto Raptors were without six members of their coaching staff, including head coach Nick Nurse, and starting forward Pascal Siakam against Houston in accordance with the NBA’s health and safety protocols regarding the coronavirus.
• The Atlanta Dream, the WNBA team whose players revolted against a co-owner Kelly Loeffler and campaigned against her in a Georgia Senate race she lost, is being sold.
Soccer
Major League Soccer said Ron Burkle, part owner of the Penguins, backed out of plans for an expansion team in Sacramento, Calif., that was scheduled to start play in 2023. MLS expanded to 26 teams in 2020 with the addition of Miami and Nashville, Tenn. Austin, Texas joins this season, which is scheduled to start April 17.
Auto racing
Santino Ferrucci is hitting a reset for the third time in his short career, moving from IndyCar to NASCAR for what he hopes will be a firm landing spot. He will drive for Sam Hunt Racing in the Xfinity Series at Homestead-Miami Speedway.