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Historic 4-goal night by Teemu Pukki helps Minnesota United ease some pain

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:42:05 GMT

Minnesota United let longtime manager Adrian Heath go on Friday, but when the Loons took the field against the Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday in St. Paul, there wasn’t much different. Same formation. Same jerseys. Similar starting lineup, minus a few players who struggled in the previous game.Striker Teemu Pukki, though, was about to do something very different. Pukki scored four goals, including three in the second half, and the Loons destroyed the Galaxy 5-2.It was MNUFC’s first victory since Aug. 30, a span of eight games, and the win keeps the Loons’ playoff hopes alive into the final week of the season.The five-goal outburst represented just the third time this year that Minnesota scored more than one goal at home in MLS play, as the finishing problems that plagued the Loons all season at Allianz Field finally disappeared in the team’s final home game. Pukki also became the first MNUFC player to score four goals in a game.Hassani Dotson put the Loons ahead in the 33rd minute, a...

Michigan mauls Gophers in a 52-10 rout as U drops to .500 on season

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:42:05 GMT

The Gophers’ long Saturday night started early.On the second play of the game, Minnesota quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis overthrew receiver Daniel Jackson on an out route; Michigan star cornerback Will Johnson intercepted it and returned it 36 yards for a touchdown.After only 12 seconds, No. 2 Michigan had jumped to a 7-0 lead and cruised to a 52-10 win in front of a sellout crowd of 52,179 at Huntington Bank Stadium.Few fans remained after Kaliakmanis threw another pick-six late in the third quarter. His pass went straight to Keon Sabb, who returned it 28 yards to make it 45-10.As Michigan fans made their way to behind the Wolverines bench to celebrate, Gophers athletic director Mark Coyle made a rare appearance in the press box. His face was red and maybe he needed a breather from some other place in the venue.The Gophers (3-3, 1-2 Big Ten) were an 18-point underdog, and the Wolverines (6-0, 3-0) would have double-covered that spread.The vaunted Wolverines made quick work of the U a...

In St. Paul’s Como/North End, a four-way race for the open Ward 5 seat

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:42:05 GMT

After 12 years in office, St. Paul City Council President Amy Brendmoen has chosen not to run for re-election in Ward 5, which spans the Como, North End, Payne-Phalen and Railroad Island neighborhoods.Brendmoen’s departure has inspired a four-way race for the open seat. The election, while officially nonpartisan, has drawn a wide cross-section of interest from labor unions, political action committees and organizations like the Twin Cities Democratic Socialists of America and St. Paul Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.Voters on Nov. 7 will choose between Hwa Jeong Kim, a nonprofit director who previously served as Brendmoen’s legislative aide; David Greenwood-Sanchez, a professor of Latin American political science; Nate Nins, a technology manager who previously served as a library associate at every public library in the city; and Pam Tollefson, a landlord and former legal editor at Thomson Reuters.The candidatesGreenwood-Sanchez, 37, has lived most of his life in the Como ...

High school football: Thierry Tetevi plays very big in Como Park’s win over Harding/Humboldt

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:42:05 GMT

Thierry Tetevi is listed at 6-foot and 230 pounds. He looks and plays larger.Be it barreling through tacklers as a running back, serving as a lead blocker or disrupting plays from his outside linebacker spot, Tetevi does a little bit of everything for Como Park.The senior scored one of the Cougars’ three rushing touchdowns in a 28-14 homecoming win over Harding/Humboldt on Saturday afternoon.“I got a big spirit. I got to use that on the field,” he said. “Whatever I’m doing I’m having fun with it. (Offense or defense) it doesn’t really matter to me.”In addition to rushing for 57 yards, his defensive superlatives included wrapping up a quarterback after a dropped snap, numerous tackles for losses and at least a couple sacks.On the inaugural Como Park drive, Tetevi had a powerful 17-yard run and then a 20-yard touchdown run on the next play. The final 10 yards came after he ran over a defensive back who’s 65 pounds lighter. Both carries came on inside handoffs.“The first time I did it ...

Twins can’t capitalize on early opportunities against Justin Verlander in Game 1 loss

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:42:05 GMT

HOUSTON — For three innings, Justin Verlander danced into and out of trouble. He looked far from the dominant, shutdown version of the ace the Twins have seen so many times in the past.And yet, the Twins couldn’t take advantage.While there was plenty to like about their at-bats against him, in the end, Verlander finished with six scoreless innings to his name, settling in after a shaky beginning and causing the Twins to rue their missed opportunities.“That’s what good pitchers do. When you give them — when you don’t take advantage of the mistakes, for any pitcher, obviously they can go into cruise control in that point later in the game, as they start getting more of a feel for it,” Twins designated hitter Royce Lewis said. “And you could tell, he started feeling his pitches out a little more. If we took advantage early on in the game, it would have been a totally different ballgame.”Lewis had one of the Twins’ first big chances against Verlander, coming to the plate in the first in...

Shedeur Sanders, timely D rallies Buffs past Arizona State 27-24, bringing CU to within two wins of bowl eligibility.

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:42:05 GMT

TEMPE, Ariz. — Against USC, the Buffs rediscovered their run game.Against Arizona State, Shedeur Sanders rekindled his Rocky Mountain Showdown magic.Sanders, CU’s starting quarterback and son of coach Deion Sanders, threw for 239 yards, including a critical 43-yard toss to Javon Antonio with 50 seconds left that set up Alejandro Mata’s game-winning 43-yard field goal, to power the Buffs to a 27-24 win early Saturday night at Mountain America Stadium.The victory was CU’s first in Pac-12 play after an 0-2 conference start and moved the Buffs to 4-2 on the season. Coach Prime’s roster is two wins away from bowl eligibility with six games left, with three of the next four coming at Folsom Field.The Buffs had momentum when Carter Stoutmire blocked an ASU field goal with 6:32 left, preserving a 24-17 CU lead.But the visitors couldn’t take advantage, punting the ball back after seven plays and 21 yards.ASU quarterback Trenton Bourguet took over from ther...

CU Buffs vs. Arizona State quick hits: Shedeur Sanders, Alejandro Mata deliver Coach Prime’s first Pac-12 victory

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:42:05 GMT

Initial observations from the CU Buffs’ 27-24 win over the Arizona State Sun Devils in head coach Deion Sanders’ first Pac-12 victory at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe, Ariz.Slow start: Here’s guessing ASU head coach Kenny Dillingham spent time watching Rocky Mountain Showdown tape. The Sun Devils play-caller took a page out of CSU’s playbook early on, drawing up the same shallow crossing routes the Rams used to pick apart CU’s defense to power a nine-play, 66-yard scoring drive to open the game. Quarterback Trenton Bourguet completed four — two for gains of 27-plus yards — in yet another troubling start for CU. For the third straight week, one team came ready to play right out of the gates with an opening possession TD. The other had some really sweet helmets.Poor protection: Following another familiar theme, Buffs quarterback Shedeur Sanders was under siege from the opening offensive snap. CU’s first drive of the game? A three-and-out that included...

Chemical additive ban targeting popular candies signed into California law

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:42:05 GMT

A bill that would ban certain additives used in popular candies and processed food has been signed into California law by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Saturday. The ban would affect certain candies such as Skittles, Peeps, Hot Tamales and Dubble Bubble Twist Gum along with thousands of other food products.Authored by Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino), AB 418 prohibits the manufacture, sale and distribution of foods that contain Red Dye No. 3, potassium bromate, brominated vegetable oil, or propylparaben. Officials hailed the bill as a “first-of-its-kind legislation” in the U.S.Gabriel’s office says the bill would not lead to any products coming off the shelves, but would simply require manufacturers to adjust their formulas.“The use of the banned chemicals has already been banned in the 27 nations in the European Union (EU) as well as many other countries due to scientific research linking them to significant health harms, including cancer, reproductive issues, and behavioral and develop...

Chris Paul looks in sync with Warriors in early preseason win over Lakers

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:42:05 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO — The Golden State Warriors were disconnected, one-dimensional and eliminated from the playoffs when they last saw the Los Angeles Lakers. Five months later, the Warriors returned with a brand new look and focus.Each team was without one of their stars for the early preseason opener: Draymond Green was out for Golden State injured and LeBron James was out for the Lakers. But the Warriors front line players outplayed the Lakers’ ones — though it’ll take some time to find a flow, the starters looked fundamentally in sync in their 125-108 win on Saturday night.Every player suited-up got into the game.The Warriors’ goal heading into camp was to remedy all the chemistry problems that plagued them last year. For the core of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, that meant organized all-team mini-camps with the entire team throughout the summer to get everyone on the same page and in sync once October began.Preseason pace can’t mat...

DC United beats NYCFC 2-0. Coach Wayne Rooney exits after missing playoffs

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:42:05 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Mateusz Klich scored late in the first half, Chris Durkin added a second-half goal and D.C. United beat New York City FC 2-0 on Saturday night but still failed to make the playoffs, leading to the departure of coach Wayne Rooney.D.C. United announced a mutual agreement with Rooney to part ways after the match. “We have spoken with Wayne and agreed it is best for us to part ways at this time,” said Jason Levien CEO and co-chairman of D.C. United. “This decision creates the avenue for our next General Manager to have the full opportunity to impart a new philosophy and structure onto our sporting operations, which begins with the critical identification of a Head Coach who will best align with this,” D.C. United (10-14-10), whose regular season ends, fell out of playoff contention when CF Montreal beat the Portland Timbers 4-1. D.C. United missed the playoffs for a fourth straight season, tying a club record set from 2008-11.NYCFC (8-11-14) has not been el...