The Baltimore Sun from Baltimore, Maryland • D2

THE BALTIMORE SUN SPORTS TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2016 Ron Fritz, Senior EditorSports, 410-332-6421, fax: 410-783-2518, e-mail: sportsbaltsun.com gE IijjjjjjjjjjjjM Ml BMW lb JAVJ in TELEVISION HIGHLIGHTS NFL Tampa BayCarolina (T) NFL 1 FT Japanese Grand Prix (T) TCN 9 M.golf Asian: Indonesian Masters, 3rd rd. (T) GOLF 11a.m. MLB WashingtonDodgers (T) MLB Noon M. soccer Teams TBA (T) BEIN 10 a.m. Cleveland Boston (if necessary) TBS 2 Teams TBA (T) BEIN 1 WashingtonDodgers FS1 5 W.C.

Slovenia vs England ESPN2 2:30 CubsSan Francisco (if necessary) FS1 8:40 W.C. Bolivia vs Ecuador BEIN 3:50 NBA pre. WashingtonNew York (T) CSN 11:30 a.m. W.C. Colombia vs Uruguay BEIN 5:55 WashingtonNew York (T) NBA Noon W.C.

Chile vs Peru BEIN 7:20 Utah Clippers (T) NBA 2 Friendly: U.S. vs New Zealand ESPN 8 BrooklynMiami NBA 7:30 ATP Shanghai Rolex Masters, early rd. TENNIS 6 a.m. PortlandLakers NBA 10:30 Shanghai Rolex Masters, early rd. (T) TENNIS 10 a.m., 6 Oklahoma CityDallas (T) NBA 2 a.m.

Shanghai Rolex Masters, early rd. TENNIS 1 a.m. WNBA Los AngelesMinnesota ESPN2 8 RADIO HIGHLIGHT C.foot. Florida State Miami (T) ESPNU 7 a.m. MLB NLDS: WashingtonDodgers 1500 AM 5 MichiganRutgers (T) ESPNU 7 FIND CUSTOMIZABLE TELEVISION LISTINGS AT BALTIMORESUN.COMTVLISTINGS EDITED FROM TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICES champion Penguins open the season.

The superstar center won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP last season and led Team Canada to the World Cup title. His short- and long-term future is in doubt after another concussion, an injury that has dogged him off and on over six years. Coach Mike Sullivan told reporters that Crosby was injured in practice Friday and that there was no timetable for his return. Sullivan declined to reveal how the concussion happened lets Ondrej Pavelec and Islanders P.A. Parenteau were put on waivers as NHL teams pare down to their opening night rosters.

The Jets put Pavelec on waivers with the intent of sending him to the AHL. The Islanders made their move with Parenteau three months after signing him to a $1.25 million, one-year contract. SOCCER: France lived up to its billing as favorite in World Cup qualifying Group A by beating the Netherlands 1-0 in Amsterdam, thanks to a long-range strike by midfielder Paul Pogba and a late save by Hugo Lloris. Sweden, meanwhile, continued to show it can play without retired superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic, going level on points at the top of the group by registering its second victory in qualifying for the 2018 tournament in Russia, beating Bulgaria 3-0 in Stockholm. Belgium scored the fastest goal in World Cup qualifying history when Christian Benteke slotted home against Gibraltar after only seven seconds in Brussels.

The previous record since detailed timing was kept was held by San Marino's Da-vide Gualtieri, who needed 8 seconds to score the opener against England in a 1993 qualifier. "The most important thing was to score early," said Benteke, who went on to score two more goals in a 6-0 win. COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Utah RB Armand Shyne is done for the season after suffering an injury to his right leg during Saturday's 36-23 victory over Arizona. The sophomore was the fourth Utah running back to go down this season. Arkansas coach Bret Bielema said LB Dre Greenlaw will need four to six weeks of recovery after undergoing foot surgery.

Florida QB Luke Del Rio will start Saturday against Missouri, returning after missing two games with a sprained left knee. The Big Ten has four teams in the top 10 of the Associated Press poll during the regular season for the first time since 1960, and No. 24 Western Michigan is ranked for the first time in school history. No. 8 Wisconsin and No.

10 Nebraska joined No. 2 Ohio State and No. 4 Michigan in the top 10. Alabama remains No. 1.

GOLF: Tiger Woods' comeback is going to have to wait at least two more months. Three days before Woods planned to end his longest break from golf, he abruptly withdrew from the Safeway Open in Napa, and said his game was not ready to take on PGA Tour competition. "My health is good, and I feel strong," Woods said on his website. "But my game is vulnerable and not where it needs to be." He said he plans to play at his Hero World Challenge on Dec. 1-4 in the Bahamas.

NBA: Pistons PG Reggie Jackson is expected to miss six to eight weeks with knee and thumb problems. The team said Jackson had platelet-rich plasma injections to treat left knee tendinosis and a sprained right thumb. NHL: Sidney Crosby has been diagnosed with at least his third concussion just a few days before the defending Stanley Cup MARCIO JOSE SANCHEZASSOCIATED PRESS Tiger Woods had planned to end his longest break from golf at the Safeway Open. SAFEWAY OPEN Woods withdraws, saying his game is still Vulnerable' Former champion also pulls out of Turkish Airlines Open next month SAFEWAY OPEN Silverado Resort, Napa, Calif. Thursday through Sunday TV: Golf Channel More online Go to baltimoresun.com By Doug Ferguson Associated Press The comeback of Tiger Woods is going to have to wait at least two more months.

Three days before Woods planned to end his longest break from golf at the Safeway Open, he abruptly withdrew on Monday and said his game was not ready to take on PGA Tour competition. "My health is good, and I feel strong," Woods said on his website. "But my game is vulnerable and not where it needs to be." And so the waiting continues. Woods first announced on Sept. 7 that he planned to play three times by the end of the year, starting with the Safeway Open at Silverado Resort in Napa, Calif.

He officially committed to the tournament Friday. The buzz was building for his return, with word leaking that he would be paired with Phil Mickelson and defending Silverado champion Emiliano Grillo. Instead, Woods withdrew from the Safeway Open and the Turkish Airlines Open, scheduled for Nov. 3-6, after what he described as "a lot of soul-searching." He said he plans to play at his Hero World Challenge from Dec. 1-4 in the Bahamas.

'When I announced last week I was going to Safeway, I had every intention of playing, or I wouldn't have committed," Woods said. He was at the Ryder Cup two weeks ago as an assistant captain and said the experience "inspired me even more to play." Woods said he practiced the past several days in California, where he also went to Stanford's football game against Washington State. "But after a lot of hours, I knew I wasn't ready to compete against the best golfers in the world," he said. "I would like to apologize and send my regrets to Safeway, the Turkish Airlines Open, the fans in California and Turkey and those that had hoped to watch me compete on TV. This isn't what I wanted to happen, but I will continue to strive to be able to play tournament golf.

"I'm close, and I won't stop until I get there." Woods last played Aug. 23, 2015, at the Wyndham Championship. Two shots out of the lead going into the final round, he closed with a 70 and tied for 10th. A month later, he announced he had had another operation on his back. He had a third back surgery in October.

He missed all four majors for the first time in his career. Johnny Miller, the tournament host at Silverado, said Woods pledged he would return to the Safeway Open nextyear if he is able. The Safeway Open is the first tournament in the PGA Tour's wraparound schedule. "It is a huge impact on our tournament, the Safeway Open," Miller told Golf Channel. "Obviously, I wish Tiger the best.

Everybody was so excited in the golf world and here in Northern California. I know there is a lot of pressure on Tiger after 14 months away from professional golf. The expectation and nervous level has got to be almost like when he played in his first L.A. Open when he was a kid. "It is hard being Tiger Woods.

It really is," Miller said. "Especially if he can't back it up with semblance of the old Tiger Woods. And everybody expects him to come back and play like he did in the year 2000. That is just not going to happen. He has got to break the ice sometime.

I hope he picks the right spot." Notah Begay, Woods' closest friend in golf and a former Stanford teammate, said the withdrawal was surprising based on what they had talked about at the Ryder Cup. Begay took a week off from his broadcast duties at NBC Sports at Hazeltine to drive Woods' cart. Woods was at Pebble Beach on Monday for a private event to benefit his foundation. sports for: Video of Joe Flacco discussing the Ravens offense after Sunday's loss to the Redskins Aaron Oster on WWE's "No Mercy," a good show with an unorthodox presentation Darkroom photo galleries of beach racing, an offshoot of enduro and motocross racing, in England and of the Orioles winning the 1966 World Series ALL SUBSCRIBERS GET FREE DIGITAL ACCESS Activate digital access at baltimoresun.comactivate. Read the pages at digitaledition.baltimoresun.com.

MAJOR ARENA SOCCER LEAGUE Blast signs former Silver Knights star defender Santana The Blast has signed former Syracuse Silver Knights standout Nelson Santana to further bolster its defense. Santana played four seasons with the Silver Knights, earning all-league honors in each, before spending last season with the Ontario Fury. In 13 games with the Fury, he had three goals and 11 assists and blocked 10 shots. "We're excited to see what Nelson can bring. We're very familiar with his ability on the ball, his competitiveness, and his overall game as he was a rival with Syracuse for some time.

Bottom line is Nelson is a quality, experienced player who we feel can step right in and help us compete for a championship again this season," Blast coach Danny Kelly said in a news release. The Blast opens its 2016-17 Major Arena Soccer League season on the road against the HarrisburgHeat on Nov. 5 before taking on the Milwaukee Wave in its home opener Nov. 11. Glenn Graham ETCETERA Ex-Terp Toliver scores 19 to help Sparks win Game 1 Kristi Toliver (Maryland) scored 19 points and Alana Beard hit a jumper from the baseline just before time expired to lift the Los Angeles Sparks to a 78-76 victory over the defending champion Minnesota Lynx in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals.

Candace Parker had 14 points and nine rebounds in her Finals debut for the Sparks. League Most Valuable Player Nneka Ogwumike added 19 points for the Sparks in the opener of the best-of-five series. Sylvia Fowles had 18 points and 13 rebounds and Lindsay Whalen scored 18 points for top-seeded Minnesota. SOFTBALL: Former Maryland player Shannon Bustillos led her professional team, the Mannheim Tornados, to a Deutsche Softball Championship this past month. The Deutsche Softball League is the professional women's Softball league in Germany, where Bustillos spent the summer.

The former Maryland catcher led her team in practically every offensive category. Bustillos' batted .472 throughout the season with a .556 slugging percentage and .525 on base percentage with nine RBIs and six runs. Down 2-0 in the best of five championship series, the 2015 Terrapin graduate led her team back to win the final three games to stave off elimination and ultimately capture the championship. In the deciding series, Bustillos went 6-for-12 and drove in three runs in the 8-3 victory in the winner take all game five. For her efforts in the championship series, Bustillos was named the Deutsche Softball League MVP.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Former Coppin State forward Janelle Lane (Woodlawn) has signed a contract overseas with Forssan Alku of the top Finnish league to begin her professional basketball career. Lane was named to the 2015-16 All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference third team and received 2016 All-MEAC tournament team honors. She started 32 games for the Eagles and was Coppin State's second best scorer with 10.9 points and five rebounds per game. WOMEN'S COLLEGE LACROSSE: Towson seniors Samantha Brookhart (Mount Hebron), GO TO BALTIMORESUN.COMSCORES Kansas City at Oakland 4:05 Atlanta at Seattle 4:25 Dallas at Green Bay 4:25 Indianapolis at Houston .8:30 MONDAY N.Y. Jets at Arizona .8:30 ASSOCIATED PRESS TOP 25 POLL RK, TEAM W-L PTS LW SOUTH NC at Bethune-Cookman ..7 Monmouth at Presbyterian 7 FRIDAY STATE J.Hopkins at Dickinson 7 SOUTH Duke at Louisville 7 Memphis atTulane .8 WEST San Diego St.

at Fresno St 10 Mississippi St. at BYU 10:15 SATURDAY STATE Minnesota at Maryland 12 Frostburg St. at C. New Jersey ..1 McDaniel at Franklin Marshalll Salisbury at William Paterson ..1 Stevenson at Widener 1 Towson at Dartmouth 1:30 Morgan St. at Hampton 2 Virginia St.

at Bowie St 2 Oakland 4 1 .80 142137 Denver 4 1 .80127 87 Kan. City 2 2 .50 83 92 San Diego 1 4 .20 152 142 NFC STANDINGS EAST PCT PF PA Dallas 4 1 .80129 91 Philadelph. 3 1 .75115 51 Washing. 3 2 .60115122 N.Y. Giants 2 3 .40 89108 SOUTH Atlanta 4 1 .80175140 Tampa Bay 1 3 .25 77128 Carolina 1 3 .25109118 N.Orleans 1 3 .25114130 NORTH Minnesota 5 0 1.0119 63 Green Bay 3 1 .75 98 83 Detroit 2 3 .40119125 Chicago 1 4 .20 85126 WEST Seattle 3 1 .75 79 54 LosAng.

3 2 .60 82106 Arizona 2 3 .40125101 San Fran. 1 4 .20111140 6-0 1520 5- 0 1444 6- 0 1406 6-0 1339 6-0 1286 6-0 1202 4-1 1193 4- 1 1020 5- 1 962 5-0 958 5-0 934 3- 2 800 5-1 701 4- 2 628 5- 0 590 4-1 576 4-1 546 4-1 483 3- 2 476 4- 0 424 5- 1 287 4-2 203 1. Alabama (56) 2. Ohio St. (2) 3.

Clemson (2) 4. Michigan (1) 5. Washington 6. Texas 7. Louisville 8.

Wisconsin 9. Tennessee 10. Nebraska 11. Baylor 12. Mississippi 13.

Houston 14. Florida St. 15. Boise St. 16.

Miami 17. Virginia Tech 18. Florida 19. Oklahoma 20. West Virginia 21.

Utah 22. Arkansas 23. Auburn 24. W. Michigan 25.

Navy Kelly McQuillan (Atholton) and Alyssa Ferro were named captains for the 2017 season. WOMEN'S COLLEGE SOCCER: McDaniel junior Sarah McDonald was selected Centennial Conference Defensive Player of the Week. WOMEN'S COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL: Maryland Eastern Shore sophomore Koya Sowells was picked MEAC Defensive Specialist of the Week. MEN'S COLLEGE SOCCER: Johns Hopkins senior Samy Ramadane has been named the Centennial Conference Offensive Player of the Week. MINOR LEAGUE BASKETBALL: The Baltimore Shuckers will hold their first off-season mini-camp Saturday as they prepare for the 2017 Central Basketball Association season.

The minicamp will be held at Leadership through Athletics located at 2900 Hammonds Ferry Road, Hale-thorpe, 21227 and is by invitation only. Interested players may contact shuckersplaycba.com for more information. JUNIOR TENNIS: A team from Baltimore will compete in the USTA Junior Team Tennis 14U National Championships on Thursday to Sunday in Cayce, S.C. The team is coached by Anne Askew and comprises Hadley Middleton (Rux-ton), Jane Askew (Baltimore), Audrey Askew (Baltimore), Jordan Aparece (Baltimore), Logan Sampath (Baltimore), Nick Penniman (Baltimore) and Paige Sawyer (Towson). HONORS: The Maryland State Athletic Hall of Fame Foundation will hold its 2016 induction banquet Nov.

3 at 6 p.m., at Michael's Eighth Avenue at 7220 Grayburn Drive in Glen Burnie. Tickets are $75 a person and $750 for a table of 10, and can be purchased at mdsahof.com or by check. Please make checks payable to the Maryland State Athletic Hall of Fame and mail to MDSAHOF, P.O. Box 664, Arnold, MD 21012. Inductees will be former Orioles outfielder Brady Anderson, who was born in Silver Spring; Chester-born power-boater Wheeler Baker; former Maryland running back Louis Carter (Arundel); National Sailing Hall of Famer and announcer Gary Jobson, who is based in Annapolis; former soccer-player and four-sport athlete Laurie Schwoy (McDon-ogh); and former Johns Hopkins and Towson High lacrosse player Jack Thomas.

Reporter Jim Henneman will receive the John F. Steadman Lifetime Achievement Award. The evening begins with cocktails and a silent auction at 6 p.m., dinner at 7, and awards from 8 to 10. From Sun staff and news services MLS SUNDAY N.Y. City at D.C United 3 REGULAR SEASON WEDNESDAY Toronto at Ottawa 7 St.

Louis at Chicago .8 Calgary at Edmonton 10 Los Angeles at San Jose 10:30 THURSDAY Montreal at Buffalo 7 NY Islanders at NY Rangers 7 Boston at Columbus 7 Detroit at Tampa Bay 7:30 New Jersey at Florida 7:30 Minnesota at St. Louis .8 Carolina at Winnipeg .8 Washington at Pittsburgh 3 Anaheim at Dallas .8:30 4-2 166 NR 6-0 154 NR 4-1 122 NR WEEK 5 Others: Georgia 59, Arizona St. 53, North Carolina 51, LSU 50, Oklahoma St. 48, North Dakota St. 36, Stanford 26, Colorado 22, South Florida 20, TCU 14, NC State 9, Washington St.

9, Iowa 3, Air Force 2, San Diego St. 2, Wake Forest 1. WEDNESDAY SOUTH Appalachian St. at La-Lafay .8 THURSDAY FINALS AFC STANDINGS EAST PCT PF PA N.England 4 1 .80114 74 Buffalo 3 2 .60117 87 N.Y.Jets 1 4 .20 92 136 Miami 1 4 .20 88119 SOUTH Houston 3 2 .60 82104 Tennessee 2 3 .40 92 101 Indianap. 2 3 .40137148 J'sonville 1 3 .25 84111 NORTH Pittsburgh 4 1 .80139 93 Ravens 3 2 .60 94 88 Cincinnati 2 3 .40 92110 Cleveland 0 5 .00 87148 WEST MONDAY Tampa Bay at Carolina late WEEK 6 THURSDAY Denver at San Diego .8:25 SUNDAY, OCT.

16 Cincinnati at New England 1 Pittsburgh at Miami 1 Philadelphia at Washington 1 Ravens at N.Y. Giants 1 Jacksonville at Chicago 1 Carolina at New Orleans 1 Los Angeles at Detroit 1 San Francisco at Buffalo 1 Cleveland at Tennessee 1 (Best-of-5) Minnesota vs. Los Angeles Monday: LA. 78 Minnesota 76 Today: at Minnesota Friday: at Los Angeles 9 x-Sunday: at LA 8 30 x-Oct 20: at Minnesota .8 x-lf necessary STATE Navy at E. Carolina 7:30.