Democrat and Chronicle from Rochester, New York • Page 37

Just Announr.ccd! PORTS 60 A IX See page 3 of today's cars.com section tliigiJ(5S5) 396-3000 www.ontariohonda.coin 3 DSJSE FOOTBALL BREAKING BARRIERS DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE WEATHER ON BACK Female ref is blazing a trail Edison grad to work college games, eyes the NFL P. Ml A si I KRISTY WIGGLESWORTHTHE ASSOCIATED PRESS It's a Nadal-Djokovic final Rafael Nadal, left, defeated Andy Murray, right, and Novak Djokovic got past Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at Wimbledon. 2D Chaka, a 29-year-old resident of Virginia Beach, has officiated high school football games the last five years. She will work her first college games this fall as an alternate official in Conference USA and on a more regular basis at the Division III level in the Old Dominion Conference. "I've got a goal in mind to make it (to the NFL) by the time I'm 40," Chaka said.

"That gives me an 11-year cushion. "It may not be my decision. It may be based on my performance. It may be that they won't let women in." JAMES JOHNSON Staff writer Maia Chaka said she was as crazy about football as any boy in her neighborhood. The bad news was that Cha-ka's opportunity to play the game came in a small window, not much beyond pick-up games.

Even if Chaka was able to play organized football, she would have probably had to stop wearing shoulder pads and a helmet, long before the letters N-F-L came into the picture. It turns out the Rochester native could reach the National Football League someday, after all. LEADING Of T.O. made 'em before they fell Dan Wetzel of Yahoo! Sports, on Terrell Owens: "In San Francisco, Jeff Garcia went to three Pro Bowls from Chaka, who graduated from Maia Chaka, 29, officiates a scrimmage at Jefferson High School on Friday. The Rochester native will be a college football referee at See CHAKA, Page 3D the Division I level this fall, carlos ortizstaff photographer 2000-02, then was on five different teams in five seasons.

"In Philadelphia, Donovan McNabb threw 31 touchdowns and finally got to the Super Bowl and then when Owens left never passed for HOCXEY FREE AGENCY BEHIND THE SCENES WITH AN AGENT SOCCER Owens Pitts iwe worn re more than 23 scores again. "In Dallas, Tony Romo enjoyed three stellar seasons that turned him into a star with Owens by his side. No one is certain he'll ever be as good. "Owens may be known as a quarterback killer, but usually not before he became a quarterback maker." This is taking it too far Jerry Greene of ESPN.com: Fourth straight league win for Rhinos "Reports indicated the Cleveland Browns may make a bid for former Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor in the ti yJ supplemental draft. nmp nn hp mav Ik i have done some bad things but hasn't he suf- Pryor fered enough?" Up next: Balk in the winning run Marlins catcher John Ruck, to The -A A -4, Associated Press, after a wild pitch during an intentional walk allowed Seattle to score the winning run: "There can't be too many other ways (to lose), right? We got that one crossed off the list, so hopefully that'll be it." Bracing for the litigation Dan Shaughnessy of SI.com: "(Bud) Selig needs to untangle himself from the McCourts as fast as possible, but he's dealing with folks who love litigation as much as Charles Barkley loves cookies.

"Bet Frank sues MLB any day now." So far, so good for Calipari Headline at SportsPickle.com: "Kentucky rewards John Calipari with contract extension for not having anything vacated so far." Compiled by Bob Chavez As the NHL free agency period begins, agent Steve Bartlett is fielding calls on two phones. His Pittsford-based Sports Consulting Group represents about 50 pro hockey players, shawn dowdstaff photographer Flurry of calls with millions at stake JEFF DIVERONICA Staff writer Forward thinking has generally been frustrating for the Rhinos. Through the first half of the USL PRO League season, Rochester's front-runners have been hit or miss but mostly miss. But on Friday night, they broke out on their way to their fourth straight league win, a 2-1 victory over the Richmond Kickers in front of an announced crowd of 5,344 fans at Sahlen's Stadium. It was hardly a goal-fest, but all four forwards coach Bob Lilley used either scored or set up a goal.

Isaac Kissi (47th minute) and Kendall Jagdeos-ingh (72nd) converted off passes by Anthony Hamilton and Andrew Hoxie, respectively, as the Rhinos (8-4-3) stretched their USL unbeaten streak to 5-0-1 and improved to 5-0-2 at home, where they've out-scored foes 8-2. "We just have to play well and attack the game. I felt like bouncing back after (Kissi's) missed PK and (Richmond's) goal that tied it, we weren't going to settle for a draw." coach Bob Lilley said. "The appetite was there and that's huge for us." The Rhinos (27 points), who responded well after Tuesday's emotional U.S. Open Cup loss to Chicago (MLS), stretched their lead to six points in the USL's National Division over Harrisburg.

They play at home at 7 p.m. Sunday See RHINOS, Page 6D SPO RTS MOM Of THE WIX MORE INSIDE Honeoye Falls native Marty Reasoner signs with the New York Islanders. 3D The Sabres add another pricey free agent, signing ex-Flyers forward Ville Leino. 3D ONUME EXTRA For a behind-the-scenes look at sports agent Steve Barlett, go to Kevin Oklobzija's "Hockey O-zone" blog at DemocratandChronicle ent pool wasn't all that deep, buyers knew they needed to move quickly. In the first 90 minutes, Steve Bartlett had spoken with 14 teams, most of whom found different items of interest on the SCG free-agent menu.

The conversations varied. KEVIN OKLOBZIJA Staff writer PITTSFORD The moment the clock struck noon, the phone in Steve Bartlett's Sports Consulting Group office began to ring. Before the clock even clicked over to 12:01 p.m., his cellphone was ringing. It was, for days like this, that text messaging and voicemail were invented. When you're peddling high-quality NHL players, as Bartlett has done in his hometown for more than 25 years, buyers start lining up early so they can make a charge when the door opens.

For Bartlett and his son and partner, Brian, this was Black Friday and they were working the jewelry counter at Macy's. Friday was the first day of NHL free agency. Since the tal- Some were right-to-the-point exchanges of probable salary range and length of contract. Others general managers used a kick-the-tires approach, checking the sticker price to see if they should even bother going for a test drive. Many just called to see what the parameters were for certain players, like Honeoye Falls native Marty Reasoner, longtime NHLer Jamie Langenbrunner, and Derek Whitmore of Greece.

Those teams weren't looking to make a deal right away but wanted to let the Bartletts know they did have interest, just that there were other pressing needs at the moment. Two general managers called shortly after noon to make an offer for winger Tyler Kennedy, See BARTLETT, Page 3D Name: Toni Biscardi. Age: 39. Residence: Spencer-port. Family: Husband, Lee; daughter, Lia; son, Joe.

Nominated by: Lia Biscardi. She's a great sports -I fl ft mom because: "My mother is truly amazing in everything she does and never fails to go above and beyond when she accomplishes something. I love my mom." Do you know a sports mom who deserves recognition? In 25 words or less, email us why at sportsODemocratandChronicle Please put "Sports Mom" in the subject line. Enjoy watching Abby, while you can WSBESTEET Yankees at Mets, 4 p.m.. Fox: The Yankees are an MLB-best 12-4 in inter-league play this season.

JEFF OiY'LRON'ICA Staff writer COMING UP Andy Parrino of Brockport is a phone call away from the major leagues. In Sunday's Democrat and Chronicle. kid from Mercy High School whose family has run a farm market in our town for decades, I think most area sports fans not soccer fans don't realize just exactly how great Abby is considered by those who follow the world's game around the globe. Millions of girls and women play soccer. Thousands, such as Wambach, have played at the international level.

In the history of the game, only three other women have scored more goals than Wambach. One is Mia Hamm, her former mentor on the national team. Mia was the poster girl for women's soccer until she retired after the 2004 Olympics, when Wambach helped deliver the gold medal by EUTEABBY Top scorers in women's soccer history: Name Country Goals Mia Hamm United States 158 Kristine Lilly United States 130 Birgit Prinz Germany 128 Abby Wambach United States 118 Christine SinclairCanada 117 MORE INSIDE U.S. takes on Colombia today at Women's World Cup. 6D scoring the winning goal in overtime.

Hamm had 158 goals. Second is recently retired American Kristine Lilly (130), and third is Germany's Birgit Prinz (128), who will retire after this World Cup. Then it's Wambach, whose See DIVERONICA, Page 6D When our editors asked me in the fall of 1995 if I'd like to cover the new soccer team in town, the Rochester Rhinos, my first thought was being at Frontier Field, then a brand new stadium, would be a pretty good way to spend a summer evening. Who knew the Rhinos would win so much on the field and fill up that ballpark so often with fans? But something else was happening in the late 1990s around Rochester that made covering soccer here special: Mary Abigail Wam-bach was developing as a young player. By now you know her name, or you've at least heard of that girl from Pittsford who plays soccer and some people think is a pretty big deal.

Yet I still get questions on I i why local media "does so much" on Wambach, who leads the United States today into its second match of this World Cup in Germany against Colombia (ESPN, noon). The 31-year-old forward assisted on the winning goal in Tuesday's 2-0 triumph over North Korea. Soccer will never be one of the "Big Three" sports in this country. I get that and accept it. I actually like football, basketball and baseball, too.

But because Wambach is one of our own, a born-and-bred i uei local spons QJ on your cellphone Text ROCSPORTS to 44636 NEWS TUPS Call (585) 258-2252 or (800) 767-7539 from outside Monroe County..