The UNC-Wilmington men's soccer team has a bull's-eye on its back. After being chosen to repeat as CAA champions by the conference's coaches in a preseason poll, the Seahawks have a tough road ahead. There's a reason why they received eight of the 11 first-place votes from the CAA coaches in the poll.

Soccer battles on the national and especially international arena are not just bouts of sports teams. Sport number 1 has long been the engine of commerce for the leading apparel manufacturers in the world.

Garcia struggles, Cardinals fall to Brewers (AP)

AP - Ryan Braun hit a three-run homer and the Milwaukee Brewers roughed up St. Louis rookie Jaime Garcia in an 8-1 win Wednesday night that kept the slumping Cardinals from gaining ground in the postseason chase.

Wozniacki and Zvonareva set for US Open semi-final (AFP)

AFP - Top seed Caroline Wozniacki will play Vera Zvonareva of Russia in Friday's semi-finals at the US Open after both battled their way through wind-swept last eight games on Wednesday.

Brenau soccer picks up first win of season

GAINESVILLE -- The Brenau soccer team picked up its first win of the season and handed Reinhardt its first loss with a 2-1 victory at the Allen Creek Soccer Complex on Wednesday in Gainesville.

Colts claim OL, put Ugoh on wavied-injured (AP)

AP - Last year, Tony Ugoh lost his starting job. On Wednesday, he was simply out of a job.

Tennis: Reno sweeps Douglas boys, girls

The Douglas boys' tennis team was able to push defending regional champ Reno late in match but the Huskies were able to pull out an 11-7 win in Minden Tuesday afternoon.

Djokovic, Zvonareva reach US Open semifinals (AP)

AP - Maybe Novak Djokovic is growing up.

Georgia's A.J. Green suspended for 4 games (AP)

AP - Georgia star receiver A.J. Green was suspended by the NCAA for four games on Wednesday for selling a bowl jersey for $1,000 to someone who qualifies as an agent.

Ingram back running, still doubtful (AP)

AP - Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram has not returned to practice for No. 1 Alabama and while Nick Saban said the injured running back is unlikely to play against No. 18 Penn State on Saturday, the coach isn't necessarily counting his star out.

Golf event to raise funds for lupus

The second annual “Friends of Lynn” Golf Tournament, in memory of Lynn Dunagan, will again swing into action at KickingBird Golf Club on Sept. 17. All proceeds from the tournament will go directly to the Oklahoma chapter of the Lupus Foundation of America.

Capello confirms he will quit after Euro 2012 (AFP)

AFP - England manager Fabio Capello has ruled out the possibility that he will continue in the job after the Euro 2012 tournament, killing off speculation that recent good performances could prolong his stay.

Tennis: ATP considers longer break

Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and other stars of men's tennis could soon be enjoying an extended post-season break.

Davidson says he ejected fan because of slur (AP)

AP - Veteran umpire Bob Davidson says he ejected a fan at Miller Park because the fan used a homophobic slur aimed at Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina.

Soccer Star Dzenan Catic-HS Athlete of the Week

Portage is known around Michigan as a hotbed of soccer talent. Great players and teams routinely emerge from the city. Paul Lewis is a cross-country star setting his sights on a state title, and he’s definitely fast on his feet.

Football fervor returns to Northport

Crosby homers as Penguins take batting practice (AP)

AP - If the Pittsburgh Pirates need an answer to their power-hitting problems, maybe they can find it across town in Penguins star Sidney Crosby.

Vikings-Saints 'encore' kicks off NFL season (AP)

AP - The Saints' first Super Bowl title was so big in New Orleans that Mardi Gras, a revered local institution dating back well more than a century, became popularly known as, "Lombardi Gras."

Soccer coach charged with molesting seven youths

SANTA ANA – A soccer coach charged with molesting five boys has been accused of sexually assaulting two more youths, a county prosecutor said Wednesday. The new allegations against Luis Alberto Pineda, 29, surfaced after an article appeared last...

Charity golf tournament

The Marlborough golf community comes together tomorrow in the name of charity when the third annual Craigs Investment Partners Marlborough Hospice Charity Golf Classic tees off at Rarangi Golf Club.

Reggie Bush: Heisman matter 'out of my hands' (AP)

AP - Reggie Bush declined to go into any detail Wednesday on what he knows about the status of his 2005 Heisman Trophy.

Basketball: Serbs topple champions, Turks send fans wild

ISTANBUL—Serbia caused a huge upset at the basketball world championships on Wednesday knocking out champions Spain, 92-89, in the first quarter-final, while later Turkey joined them in the last four with a 10,000 strong home crowd carrying them to an easy victory over Slovenia.

Tennis: NZer bows out of US Open

New Zealand tennis player Ben McLachlan and his Irish doubles partner, Sam Barry, have been knocked out of the US Open junior boys doubles competition in New York today.They lost a tight second round match to the Brazilian combination...

Gillis takes the long way to the BMW Championship (AP)

AP - Living off fast food and pocket change as you chase a dream from one small tour stop to another is easy — romantic, even — when you're young and have no responsibilities.

Former NBA player Rumeal Robinson guilty of fraud (AP)

AP - Rumeal Robinson, who led Michigan to the NCAA men's basketball championship in 1989 and later played in the NBA, was convicted in federal court Wednesday of borrowing more than $700,000 for a sham business deal and then spending the money on a condominium, expensive furniture and cars.

Basso, Sanchez headline ProTour's North American debut (Reuters)

Reuters - Giro d'Italia champion Ivan Basso and Olympic road race champion Samuel Sanchez are among the big names competing in Canada this week as the ProTour arrives on North American soil for the first time.

Medford Basketball Fall Basketball signups begin Sept. 11

Medford Basketball Fall Basketball will be held at Medford High School for boys and girls, grades 1-8, beginning Saturday Sept. 25. This will be an eight-week Saturday program to teach the fundamentals of basketball.

Homestead-Miami off 2011 IndyCar schedule (AP)

AP - Homestead-Miami Speedway is off the 2011 Indy Racing League schedule, a decision that some of the series' top drivers are not thrilled about.

Baseball. Kansas Baseball Unveils 2011 Schedule

Kansas head baseball coach Ritch Price announced Wednesday that the Jayhawks' 2011 schedule has been finalized. The 55-game regular season includes 27 contests at Hoglund Ballpark, including games against Big 12 rivals Texas, Baylor, Oklahoma State, Nebraska and Kansas State.

Tennis-Men's tennis tour considering extended off-season

The men's tennis tour is in talks to implement a two-week extension to its off-season in time for the 2012 season, the head of the men's ATP tour said on Wednesday.

Fantasy football waiver wire: Draft leftovers offer good value

Nobody wins a fantasy football league without working the waiver wire. Players get hurt. Starters get benched. Wideouts don't get many targets. A fantasy squad at the end of a season could look radically different than it did in Week 1. The draft is when you do all your trash talking, but the waiver wire is where you win your league.

Golf is rewarding sport for Lonoke’s Robinson

Ryan Robinson received his first golf set when he was 1 year old, and nine years later he has amassed 50 awards, trophies and medals.

FOOTBALL: Darin powers Pioneers past Lutheran Westland

The 2010 football season is young, but it hard to find player who has had a greater all-around impact on his team than Gabriel Richard’s Gino Darin.

SOCCER: Huron rebounds from league loss

The Huron soccer team rebounded from a loss to Grosse Ile by hammering host Flat Rock 8-1 last a week ago.

Golf Tournament to Benefit MASE Charter School

A charity golf tournament scheduled for Oct. 11 at Glen Eagle Golf Course will benefit the Memphis Academy of Science and Engineering. The cost is $20...

Baseball Kicks Off Fall Practice, Welcomes 18 Newcomers

The University of Tennessee baseball team will kick off the fall portion of its practice on Wednesday at Lindsey Nelson Stadium

Golf course transition to private management complete

The Mt. Graham Golf Course is under new management, but not much has changed. Burt Watkins is still the golf pro; prices have remained the same; and the holes are where they were.

Clemens' lawyers ask NY judge to toss suit (AP)

AP - A defamation lawsuit against Roger Clemens should be thrown out because the seven-time Cy Young Award winner was merely trying to defend himself against his former personal trainer's doping allegations, Clemens' lawyers argued Wednesday.

Baseball. John Pawlowski Contract Extended Through 2015

Auburn baseball coach John Pawlowski, who directed Auburn to its first Southeastern Conference Western Division title in 15 years in 2010, has been rewarded with a two-year contract extension through 2015, announced Director of Athletics Jay Jacobs.

Football player in critical condition

A football player was hospitalized after he took a bad hit during practice at Spruce Creek High School.

Golf classic raises more than $6,000

FAYETTEVILLE -- The first Lee Crawford Memorial Golf Classic on Aug. 11 at Penn National Golf Course in Fayetteville, Pennsylvania, raised more than $6,000.

Football. One-on-One with: Daymond Patterson

While Kansas football dropped its season-opener to North Dakota State Saturday, junior wide receiver Daymond Patterson enjoyed a stellar game individually. The junior from Mesquite, Texas ran for 63 yards and caught four passes for 66 yards. KUAthletics.com caught up with the rising junior.

Football, RazorRock Rally dominate week

Football is in the air and on the ground in North Little Rock.

Tennis: Jones back after injury

New Zealand No 1 Sacha Jones has made a successful return to tennis after a long injury break. Jones, sidelined by an abdominal injury since January, took a set to find her feet at the $25,000 ITF Pro Circuit Tournament in Cairns...

Tennis team nets second place

NEBRASKA CITY – The Waverly tennis team is beginning to pick up the pace.

Soccer: Madison Hall of Fame's 2010 class a diverse cast

The second class of the Madison Area Soccer Hall of Fame includes an original member of the 56ers, an early ambassador of the game, a pair of transplanted Africans and the first two officials to be honored.

Baseball starts fall practice

GREENVILLE, N.C. - The 2011 edition of the East Carolina baseball team will open fall practice Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 8 at Lewis Field inside Clark-LeClair Stadium under the direction of sixth-year Head Coach Billy Godwin.

Baseball's great Triple Crown race

Triple Crown fever has struck the National League as Joey Votto and Albert Pujols, the matched set of big-hitting first basemen in the formerly compelling NL Central race, both rank among the league leaders in each of the three Triple Crown categories (batting average, home runs, and RBIs). So who has the best chance to win baseball's first batting Triple Crown since 1967 and the first in the ...

Katarina Witt takes bigger role in Munich 2018 bid (AP)

AP - Stung by a lingering land dispute with farmers and the sudden resignation of its CEO for health reasons, Munich is relying on figure skating great Katarina Witt to lift the city's bid for the 2018 Winter Olympics.

Golf report: Cink aims for Tour Championship spot