Geneva defeated Rio Grande, 2-1, in its NAIA Region 9 tournament opener yesterday in Mt. Vernon, Ohio, as starting pitcher Dave Foss went 8¹/₃ innings for the win.

Tyler Kepiro and Rob Arata accounted for the Golden Tornadoes' runs with sacrifice flies.

Foss improved to 7-2 with the win and sends Geneva (29-18) into a winner's bracket game vs. Ohio Dominican or Malone at 10 a.m. today.

Hockey

The International Ice Hockey Federation said yesterday the winner of the European Champions Cup will participate in a new tournament next year, a tournament that also is to include an unidentified NHL club. The tournament will be known as the Victoria Cup. Eventually, the IIHF aims for the Stanley Cup champion to face its European counterpart each year.

Brendan Shanahan is leaning toward returning for a 20th NHL season, and wants to stay with the New York Rangers. "My instincts are that I will probably play," he said.

Scott Gomez packed his equipment yesterday and quite possibly said goodbye to the New Jersey Devils. Gomez, 27, will become an unrestricted free agent in July and intends to test the market. "We have gone this far, it would be foolish not to see what's out there," Gomez said.

Soccer

Diego Maradona, 46, says he no longer drinks or uses drugs, and plans to return to playing small-scale exhibition games. Maradona was noticeably thinner when he appeared early yesterday on a popular TV show in Buenos Aires. He was released Sunday after spending 16 days in several local clinics to treat what doctors said was excessive alcohol consumption that led to a form of hepatitis.

Many of the names are familiar as the United States women prepare to face Canada Saturday night in a friendly in Frisco, Texas. Included on the roster are team captain Kristine Lilly, Abby Wambach and two-time World Cup veteran Kate Markgraf. The match will mark the 39th meeting between the United States and Canada, tying Norway for the most games played against any opponent in U.S. women's national team history

Auto racing

Jon Herb spun and hit the wall coming out of the second turn yesterday during the first full day of practice for the Indianapolis 500. He climbed from his car and did not appear to be injured.

Tennis

Top-ranked Roger Federer, hoping to step up his game on clay and win his first French Open next month -- the only major he has never won -- beat Nicolas Almagro, 6-3, 6-4, in the second round of the Rome Masters.

Boxing

Evander Holyfield, 44, will fight Lou Savarese June 30 in El Paso, Texas, as he continues his comeback. Holyfield is 3-0 since returning to the ring.

Horse racing

Former 2-year-old champion Chilukki and her foal died after complications during birth. Chilukki was the top 2-year-old filly in the country in 1999 and won 11 times in 17 starts for trainer Bob Baffert.

Olympics

Organizers of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver say the event will meet its $1.47 billion budget and leave a healthy legacy for Canada and the province of British Columbia. The Games will be staged in Vancouver and Whistler from Feb. 12-28.

Sailing

Desafio Espanol clinched the final place in the semifinals of the Louis Vuitton Cup yesterday when Emirates Team New Zealand beat Victory Challenge of Sweden in the 10th flight of match racing off the coast of Valencia, Spain. Desafio Espanol joins BMW Oracle, Emirates Team New Zealand and Luna Rossa in the semifinals.