WPPA / T-102 SPORTS / Friday

HOUSTON (AP) — Brian Ching scored at the end of the first half, and the Houston Dynamo defeated the Philadelphia Union 1-0 last night to advance to the MLS Eastern Conference finals. Houston won the two-game series 3-1 on aggregate scoring after a 2-1 win Sunday at Philadelphia. The Dynamo play Sporting Kansas City on Sunday in Kansas City for the chance to move on to the MLS Cup.

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Ryane Clowe scored the lone goal in a shootout and Thomas Greiss stopped all three Pittsburgh attempts as the San Jose Sharks overcame a two-goal deficit in the third period to beat the Penguins 4-3 last night. It was San Jose's eighth straight home win over Pittsburgh.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Patrik Elias and Zach Parise scored in the shootout to lift the New Jersey Devils to a 4-3 win over the Philadelphia Flyers last night. Elias scored the winner on New Jersey's final attempt. Parise beat Sergei Bobrovsky on the stick side on the first attempt.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers have found their rhythm offensively. One week running back Rashard Mendenhall is running for 146 yards in a win over the Jaguars, the next Ben Roethlisberger is hitting Mike Wallace for a team-record 95-yard touchdown pass against the Cardinals. The Baltimore Ravens will get an up close look on Sunday night at Heinz Field.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker LaMarr Woodley remained limited in practice yesterday and his status for Sunday's showdown with Baltimore is questionable. Woodley is undergoing aggressive treatment for his strained hamstring. He says he will be a game-time decision.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Number 12 Penn State is seeking its first Big Ten crown since 2004, and the Lady Lions have the perfect shooting guard to take aim at the title. Maggie Lucas is back after a record-setting freshman year. The Philadelphia-area native last year scored 15.8 points a game to lead Penn State.

CHICAGO (AP) — A person familiar with the search says the Chicago Cubs will interview Philadelphia Phillies bench coach Pete Mackanin for their vacant manager's job today. Mackanin interviewed for the Red Sox job on Monday.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Ryne Sandberg is among the candidates who will be interviewing with the St. Louis Cardinals. He was ruled out earlier this week for the Chicago Cubs' managing vacancy. Sandberg managed the Philadelphia Phillies' Triple-A team last season and the Phillies say they've granted the Cardinals permission to talk to him.

ERIE, Pa. (AP) — Senator Bob Casey wants to ensure that Erie's minor league baseball team stays in northwestern Pennsylvania. Responding to speculation the Erie SeaWolves might move to the Canadian capital of Ottawa, Casey wrote a letter yesterday to the club's ownership group. He says the team is an important part of the region's economy.

NHL
Thursday's Games
N.Y. Rangers 2, Anaheim 1, SO
New Jersey 4, Philadelphia 3, SO
Chicago 3, Florida 2, SO
San Jose 4, Pittsburgh 3, SO
Winnipeg 3, N.Y. Islanders 0
Toronto 4, Columbus 1
Calgary 4, Detroit 1
Minnesota 5, Vancouver 1
Nashville 3, Phoenix 0
Edmonton 3, Los Angeles 0

Friday's Games
Washington at Carolina, 7 p.m.
Calgary at Buffalo, 7:30 p.m.
Montreal at Ottawa, 7:30 p.m.
Chicago at Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m.
Vancouver at St. Louis, 8 p.m.
Colorado at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.

MLS Playoffs
WILD CARDS
Wednesday, Oct. 26: New York 2, FC Dallas 0
Thursday, Oct. 27: Colorado 1, Columbus 0

EASTERN CONFERENCE
Semifinals
Sporting Kansas City vs. Colorado, Sporting City advances 4-0
Sunday, Oct. 30: Sporting Kansas City 2, Colorado 0
Wednesday, Nov. 2: Sporting Kansas City 2, Colorado 0
Houston vs. Philadelphia, houston advances 3-1
Sunday, Oct. 30: Houston 2, Philadelphia 1
Thursday, Nov. 3: Philadelphia 0, Houston 1

Championship
Sunday, Nov. 6: Sporting Kansas City vs. Houston, TBA

WESTERN CONFERENCE
Semifinals
Los Angeles vs. New York, Los Angeles advances 3-1
Sunday, Oct. 30: Los Angeles 1, New York 0
Thursday, Nov. 3: New York 1, Los Angeles 2
Seattle vs. Real Salt Lake, Real Salt Lake advances on aggregate 3-2
Saturday, Oct. 29: Seattle 0, Real Salt Lake 3
Wednesday, Nov. 2: Seattle 2, Real Salt Lake 0

Championship
Sunday, Nov. 6: Real Salt Lake at Los Angeles, 9 p.m.

MLS CUP
Sunday, Nov. 20: Conference Champions at Carson, Calif., 9 p.m.