1029conf wom ACC Quarterfinals Nov. 1 in Cary, N.C. North Carolina 3 N.C. State 0 Boston College 1 Clemson 2 Florida State 2 Duke 0 Wake Forest 2 Virginia 1 Semifinals Nov. 3 in Cary, N.C. North Carolina 3 Clemson 0 Wake Forest 0 Florida State 0 (OT) (Florida State wins 4-2 on aggregate.) Final Nov. 5 in Cary, N.C. America East Quarterfinals Oct. 27 Binghamton 0 New Hampshire 0 (OT) (New Hampshire wins 4-2 on penalties.) Maine 2 Vermont 0 Semifinals Oct. …

The USA got spectacular first-half finishes from Kristine Lilly (her 155th career goal) and Natasha Kai (making her first start) to defeat Australia, 2-0, Tuesday and remain in contention for a berth in the final of the 2006 Peace Queen Cup in South Korea. Greg Ryan's Americans next face the Netherlands on Thursday at Suwon World Cup Stadium to close out Group B play. They are tied with Denmark, which will play Australia, with four points and have the edge on goal difference (plus-2 to plus-1). Against Australia, Ryan made …

Brazil's globetrotting national team is cutting back on its travel, going so far as to cut out all home friendlies. After the Brazilian soccer federation (CBF) signed a $369 million deal with Nike in 1996, Brazil toured the world, building its brand as soccer's most famous national team. But European clubs objected to the wear and tear on its Brazilian stars, particularly during South America's marathon World Cup qualifying tournament. As part of a deal to drop their opposition to the 18-game World Cup qualifying system, European clubs got the CBF to agree to play all international friendlies …

DaMarcus Beasley made his first start for English Premier League club Manchester City on Monday, playing 71 minutes wide in midfield in a 1-0 win over Middlesbrough. The 24-year-old veteran of two World Cups, limited by injuries to two appearances off the bench since joining the Blues on loan from Dutch power PSV Eindhoven, was one of five lineup changes Coach Stuart Pearce made after a 4-0 loss to Wigan that dropped them within three points of the relegation zone. Also inserted into the lineup was Claudio Reyna, whose last start was on Sept. 11. Reyna has started four of …

The USA will take part in the 2007 Copa America, the world's oldest continental championship, which was launched in 1916 as the South American championship. Since 1993, the South American federation (Conmebol) has invited teams from outside the region. Here's how they've fared: 1993 Mexico (runner-up), USA (first round). Champion: Argentina 1995 USA (fourth place), Mexico (quarterfinals). Champion: Uruguay 1997 Mexico (third place), Costa Rica (first round). Champion: Brazil 1999 Mexico (third place), Japan (first round). Champion: Brazil 2001 Mexico (runner-up), Honduras (third place), Costa Rica (quarterfinals). Champion: Colombia 2004 Mexico (quarterfinals), Costa Rica (quarterfinals). Champion: Brazil

Away goals or penalty kicks? Which is better? When MLS drew up its playoff format, deputy commissioner Ivan Gazidis admitted that not using away goals as a tiebreaker increases the chances of overtime and penalty kicks. A league whose regular-season games are often lacking in drama selected a playoff scheme designed to ratchet up the intensity and suspense as much as possible.Also, a two-game, total-goals format is esoteric enough for many of the people who cover and attend MLS games, regardless of its use around the world. Tacking on an away-goals provision would increase their confusion. It's still seems strange …

The U.S. under-17 boys national team finished its month-long tour of Uruguay and Argentina with a 4-4-1 record. The Americans finished second at the Torneo Internacional Sub-17 Provincia de San Luis and third at the Copa Ciudad de Rosario. In the final game of the tour, the U.S. U-17s defeated the Renato Cesarini Academy, 3-1. led the Americans with two goals to finish as the tour's top scorer with four goals. Jose Altimorano scored three goals, and Jared Jeffrey and Ellis McLoughlin had two apiece. John Hackworth's U-17s are scheduled to resume their residency program in …

Despite clinching its first Pac-10 men's title on Sunday, California did not earn an automatic berth into the 48-team NCAA Division I Tournament, contrary to what was reported in Monday's College Soccer Reporter. The Pac-10 lost its automatic berth this season. Cal, ranked No. 11 in the nation, is expected to receive an at-large berth, however.

Play begins this week in the NCAA Division II men's and women's tournaments. The final fours for both men and women will be played the week of Nov. 16-19 in Pensacola, Fla. Here's a look at the eight women's regional seeds. (Tomorrow: men's regional seeds.) FRANKLIN PIERCE. Brazilian Gabriela Demoner was the MVP as the Ravens won their seventh straight NE-10 tournament title. Franklin Pierce, winner of five D2 titles, enters the postseason with 16 straight wins. WEST CHESTER.The Golden Rams won the Pennsylvania State …

The men's and women's regular seasons finish this weekend, and 15 Division I conference championships -- six men's and nine women's -- will televised. The NCAA Division I men's and women's tournament fields will be announced on Monday, Nov. 6. The women's selections will be announced on ESPNEWS's 3-4 p.m. ET news slot. The men's selections will be announced on ESPNEWS's 4-5 p.m. ET news slot. MEN (All times are Eastern.) ACC Sunday Final, Fox College Sports Atlantic, FSN South, NESN, live, 1 pm Friday 11/10 Final, Fox Soccer Channel, delay, 8 …

MEN G PLAYER, SCHOOL, YEAR 20 Joseph Lapira, Notre Dame, Jr. 17 Joshua Okoampa, Wis.-Green Bay, Sr. 16 Steven Holloway, Monmouth, Sr. 16 Saidi Isaac, Winthrop, Jr. 16 Jeffrey Gonsalves, Rhode Island, Sr. 15 Charlie Davies, Boston College, Jr. 15 Riley O'Neill, Kentucky, Sr. 14 Tommy Krizanovic, Jacksonville, Sr. 14 Jarrod Smith, West Virginia, Sr. 14 Josh Trott, Holy Cross, Sr. 14 Juan Gaviria, St. Peter's, Jr. 14 Chris Banks, New Hampshire, Fr. (For games played through Oct. 29) WOMEN G PLAYER, SCHOOL, YEAR 20 Kala Morgan, Middle Tenn., Soph. …

Boston College's Charlie Davies, who missed all but one game of the 2005 college season, capped a comeback season by being named the 2006 ACC Offensive Player of the Year. Davies leads all ACC players with 15 goals in 15 games and has the Eagles on the verge of making the NCAA Tournament after they went winless in the ACC in 2005. Davies was the Big East Rookie of the Year in 2004, the Eagles' last season before moving to the ACC, but never got to play in an ACC game last season. He suffered a season-ending …

1025conf men scores ACC First Round Oct. 31 in Boyds, Md. Virginia Tech 3 N.C. State 4 Quarterfinals Nov. 1 in Boyds, Md. Wake Forest 0 North Carolina 0 (OT) (Wake Forest wins 5-4 on penalties.) Duke 2 N.C. State 1 Virginia 2 Clemson 0 Maryland 1 Boston College 0 (OT) Semifinals Nov. 3 in Boyds, Md. #2 Wake Forest vs. #3 Virginia #1 Duke vs. #4 Maryland Final Nov. 5 in Boyds, Md. America East First Round Oct. 28 Albany 0 Boston U. 1 New Hampshire 4 Stony Brook 0 …

Northeast Region Nov. 3 in West Chester, Pa. West Chester (20-0-0) vs. Slippery Rock (12-6-1) Indiana (Pa.) (14-6) vs. New Haven (12-4-4) New England Region Nov. 3 in Rindge, N.H. Franklin Pierce (17-2-0) vs. Mass.-Lowell (10-5-3) St. Rose (16-2-1) vs. Bryant (15-7-1) Central Region Nov. 3 in Omaha, Neb. Nebraska-Omaha (18-0-1) vs. Central Missouri (12-4-3) Washburn (15-1-4) vs. Missouri Southern State (11-4-4) Great Lakes Region Nov. 3 in Allendale, Mich. Grand Valley State (15-1-1) vs. Quincy (16-4-0) Mercyhurst (16-3-0) vs. Indianapolis (16-4-1)

Brazil's globetrotting national team is cutting back on its travel, going so far as to cut out all home friendlies. After the Brazilian soccer federation (CBF) signed a $369 million deal with Nike in 1996, Brazil toured the world, building its brand as soccer's most famous national team. But European clubs objected to the wear and tear on its Brazilian stars, particularly during South America's marathon World Cup qualifying tournament. As part of a deal to drop their opposition to the 18-game World Cup qualifying system, European clubs got the CBF to agree to play all …