Edmonton Journal from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada • 31

BEARS KEEP II UP SIA Alberta beats Iberta beats Simon Fraser 39-21 C5 IB I (l SURPRISE Alouettes pound on Ticats C3 I 1 -r I spec! oft. EDITOR: JOHN MacKINNON, 429-5303; sportsthejournal.canwest.com EDMONTON JOURNAL SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2003, WILD OVER BRiDIER Minnesota has a big guy they were hiding in Germany last season C3 Canada finds its game just in time Bring on the Als 1 hi a i Even down 1-0, team never lost its confidence JOHN KOROBAMK journal Sports Write! FOXBORO, MASS. Christine Sinclair could hardly stop smiling long enough to answer questions after Canada scored a solid 3-1 victory over Japan to advance into the World Cup soccer playoffs for the first time. "It's fun to win games in the World Cup," Sinclair said as a feeling of half relief, half joy swept over her and the rest of the Canadian team. It was relief they had finally played their game after two disappointing matches; joy that they had accomplished their first goal of getting into the quarter-finals.

Canada's first ever World Cup playoff game will be Thursday in Portland, against the winner of tonight's China-Russia match. Canada got its historic victory byplayingits game aggressive, long air balls, attacking offence and confidence. These are things they failed to show in their first two games a 4-1 loss to Germany and a 3-0 win over Argentina. "It was a matter of believing in ourselves," said Charmaine Hooper who had another strong game at inside defender. "Even when we were down 1-0, we knew we could battle back" Coach Even Pellerud had two surprises in his lineup keeper Taryn Swiatek in net for the second straight game and Isabelle Morneau starting on the backside for the first time in a year.

That moved Brittany Timko to midfield. The moves, combined with the team's determination, CANADA 3 JAPAN 1 Canada goalkeeper Taryn Swiatek, Foxboro, on Saturday. From created the result he wanted. Canada came out strong, creat- ing some good offensive thrusts and rebuilding their fragile con- fidence. Even after Japan scored on Homare Sawa's point-blank shot off Yayoi Kawakami's cross in the 19th minute, Canada kept its composure.

i L. Li a. "feii a 1 1 I HI ASS0OAIID I'KISS right, knocks the ball away before Japan players can get a header on a corner kick in the second half in left are Japan's Hiromi Isozaki (3), Homare Sawa (10) and Eriko Arakawa (9). "It deflates you a little," agreed game wasn't over. That's the big "Even after they got the first Sinclair.

thing." goal, I felt we had the momen- "You're thinking 'We have to Christine Latham, who had turn of the game," Latham said, win, we have to and you find missed two good chances earlier, "We had them pinned in their yourselfdownl-Oandallofa pulled Canada even in the 36th end a lot. We had the momentum sudden you have to score two minute, pushing her way past with our aggressiveness, our ball goals to make it to Portland. defender YasuyoYamagishi and winning and our tackling. We "It hit us a bit but we were get- deftly chipping a left-footed ball kept fighting, battling hard." ting chances; so we knew the pass the keeper. See CANADA VA WILD 3 OILERS 2 (OT) VICKI HAIL journal Football Writer EDMONTON Edmonton Eskimos slotback Terry Vaughn hardly leans towards political correctness.

In fact, he speaks his mind to a fault. So it is easy to believe Vaughn is genuine in his praise of the Montreal Alouettes, the next opponent on the schedule for the Eskimos, in a game that will feature the top two teams in the Canadian Football League. Forget the trash talk at least from the Edmonton side. Vaughn and the Eskimos respect the foe that won the Grey Cup against them last November at Commonwealth Stadium. "Until we beat them, I still think they are the best team," said Vaughn, who caught 11 passes for 142 yards on Friday in a 27-7 victory over the B.C.

Lions. "They are playing well. They do a lot of good things over there. "Their defence causes turnovers' and their offence puts up points on the board. We have to be on our 'A' game." The Eskimos are rolling at the right time of the season.

They are1 riding a four-game winning streak and playing their best football in years. "This is when you want to gef hot," said defensive back Donny Brady. "You want to be hitting all cylinders right about now. "We started out slow. Bui now is our time.

We can't take anybody for granted, and we don't care who we play. We are trying to lock up home-field advantage." See ESKIMOS I CI wJV "--r1 RIUIIRS Blue Jays pitcher Roy Halladay Chicago Cubs clinch C5 season that could make him the third Blue Jay to win the Cy Young Award. Pat Hentgen was the first in 1996 while Clemens claimed it in 1997 and '98. Vernon Wells picked up a pair of hits for 215 on the year, breaking the old single-season mark of 213 set by Tony Fernandez in 1986. 1 1 fife Jays' Halladay wins 22nd game Prospects have one more chance The Canadian Press TORONTO It was a rare burst of emotion from the usually stoic Ray Halladay.

Once Carlos Delgado squeezed Orlando Hudson's relay throw to put Halladas 22nd win ofthe season in the books, the big righthander pumped his fist, gave catcher Kevin Cash a huge hug and celebrated with his teammates as an elated SkyDome crowd of 21,504 went nuts. Despite not having his best stuff during the Toronto Blue Jays' 5-4 win over the Cleveland Indians on Saturday, Halladay might have secured himself the American League Cy Young Award with a gutsy complete game. "It was definitely a game where I didn't feel as sharp as normal," said Halladay. "Those games are really a battle and you pretty much put every-thingyou have into it to come out on top. "That it was a grind made it more emotional for me." The victory was special for several reasons.

With 22 wins, Halladay broke the old team record of 21 he shared with Jack Morris and Roger Clemens, capping a stellar Kids, like stocks, are up and down in their time to shine JOANNE IRELAND Journal Hockey Writer EDMONTON When coach Craig MacTavish took stock of the night's event, he was left with two groups of prospects. There were those who continued to play themselves into contention, and those who will be Toronto Roadrunners before they are Edmonton Oilers. The split was fairly evident after the visiting Minnesota Wild defeated the Oilers 3-2 in overtime in Saturday's pre-season contest at Skyreach. Defenceman Mikko Luomo is an able puck handler but can be a liability defensively. That was evidenced in the second period when Darby Hendrickson skated right around the Finn before setting up Kyle Wanvig to put the Wild up 2-1.

Conversely, Tony Salmelainen wasn't spectacular but he has game-breaking speed and the ability to finish, which he did when he evened the game 2-2 in the third period. i Ji Vv it i t- if- T--t-XC As- 'V IAN (AtKSON. IHf JOLIRNAl Wild's Darby Hendrickson crashes between Oilers' Jason Smith (21) and goalie Ty Conklin on Saturday night. "Any of the young guys who to start the year," said MacTavish. of their inexperience, but at the leave you wondering whether "At the end ofthe day, you have same time they're going to be able they can start and whether they to create more than you give up to capitalize when they're given can play at this level are guys who and some of these guys are going the opportunity, are likely going to go to Toronto to give up a fair amount because See OILERS I CI ALL NEW 2004 SEMTRAI Your Southside NISSAN Store) Check our website for a great selection of used vehicles 1 1 VIj mm VWTH VALUE OPTION PACKAGE 11V 136Pmngne LEASE FOR ONLY spat oong rear aea S-4 flfh WW 2003XTERRAXE AJAC 2000 Award Winner "Canacfan Truck at the Year" 180HPa3reWeri! i -6speateMFMCr)sBo CrjeecortrrJ ST a NISSAN rmtht TOLL FREE 1 -000-013-0017 34 AVE.

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