IN BRIEF

SOCCER

U.S. goalkeeper Solo makes public apology

U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo apologized for harsh criticism of coach Greg Ryan and comments about teammate Briana Scurry during the World Cup in a statement issued Saturday night, about a half-hour before the team's exhibition against Mexico in St. Louis.

She decided not to suit up in a move toward reconciliation and sat at the end of the bench, wearing jeans and a sweat top.

"I would like to apologize to my teammates, coaches and everyone else adversely affected by my comments," Solo said. "This public apology comes later than it should have, but I hope that does not diminish the fact that I am truly sorry."

In Saturday's game, the Americans got two goals from top scorer Abby Wambach and another from captain Kristine Lilly in a 5-1 victory.

Also: Germany became the first team to qualify for the European Championship after a 0-0 draw against Ireland in Dublin.

England moved within one win of advancing after a 3-0 victory over Estonia in London.

COLLEGES

UNLV men's swimmers knock off No. 21 ASU

The UNLV men's swimming and diving team beat No. 21 Arizona State 158.5-141.5 at Buchanan Natatorium in the season opener for both teams.

Richard Hortness won the 50- and 100-yard freestyle races, Devin Phillips took the 100 and 200 backstroke, and David Seiler won the 100 and 200 butterfly. UNLV went 1-2-3 in the 200 butterfly and 1-2 in the 100 fly.

Jonas Andersson won the 100 breaststroke.

The UNLV women's team lost to No. 23 ASU 205-95, with Kim Bonney (200 breaststroke) posting the lone win for the Rebels. Wendy Williams was second in the 1-meter and 3-meter diving events.

Also: The UNLV volleyball team rallied from a first-game loss to beat New Mexico 22-30, 30-26, 31-29, 32-30 in a Mountain West Conference match in Albuquerque, N.M.

Maria Aladjova and Lauren Miramontes had 22 kills apiece for the Rebels (15-3, 6-2 Mountain West), and Melody Nua had 57 asists. Jada Walker had 23 digs.

The UNLV cross country team took 34th among 35 teams in the white division race at the NCAA Pre-Nationals Meet in Terre Haute, Ind. Charlotte Browning led the Rebels, covering 6 kilometers in 21 minutes, 55 seconds to take 109th.

Saint Joseph's sophomore guard D.J. Rivera, who played in all 32 games last season, will sit out the first semester to concentrate on academics.

MISCELLANEOUS

Reed wrecks; Langston earns Supercross title

Australian Chad Reed was headed for a $250,000 payday before being collected in a multibike crash on the opening lap of the U.S. Open Supercross race at the MGM Grand Garden.

Reed, who later crashed two more times and went helmet-to-helmet with Tim Ferry after the race, opened the door for Grant Langston to post the best combined finish over two nights to earn the Open title and $100,000 before 8,307 spectators.

Langston, of Clermont, Fla., finished eighth Friday and third Saturday, behind race winner Jake Weimer of Rupert, Idaho.

Reed, a two-time Open champion who won Friday night to earn $50,000, would have earned a $100,000 bonus had he been leading through the track's second turn and gone on to win the feature race.

Also: Chris McCormack of Australia rallied with a strong marathon run to win the 140.6-mile Ironman Triathlon World Championship in Kaillua-Kona, Hawaii.

His total time was 8 hours, 15 minutes, 31 seconds.

Chrissie Wellington of Britain won the women's race.

Bit of Whimsy raced to her first Grade 1 victory, beating Dreaming of Anna by 21/4 lengths in the $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky.

Dreaming of Anna, the Eclipse Award-winning filly who came in on a three-race winning streak, led the field of nine early, but Bit of Whimsy rallied, running 1 1/8 miles on the turf course in 1:48.73.

New York Islanders forward Chris Simon returned from a record 25-game suspension dating to last season to play in a 3-1 loss to the host Philadelphia Flyers.

The NHL punished Simon in March for his two-handed stick attack to the face of Ryan Hollweg of the New York Rangers.

Bruce Mulherin had two goals to lead the Las Vegas Wranglers past the host Bakersfield Condors 4-3 in an ECHL preseason game.

Nathan Swingle caught four passes for 195 yards and a touchdown, and recorded 10 tackles (three sacks) to help Mountain View to a 48-8 win over visiting Laughlin.

Evan Entler passed for 176 yards and three TDs, and Brandon Carr completed all three of his passes for 140 yards and another score.

Indian Springs running back Derek Oliver rushed for four touchdowns and returned an interception for another score as the Thunderbirds earned a 57-36 road win over Spring Mountain.

Linebacker Antone Allen had 12 tackles.