The Enquirer and wire reports

The Cincinnati Mighty Ducks can win their first playoff series tonight when they face the defending Calder Cup champion Houston Aeros at 8 p.m. at the Toyota Center in Game 2 of a best-of-3 series.

Tony Martensson had a goal and an assist, and Ilya Bryzgalov made 28 saves to lead the Ducks to a 3-1 victory over the Aeroes in Game 1 Thursday in Houston.

There have been eight best-of-3 qualifying round series since the AHL adopted the format in 2002. Seven of the eight teams to win Game 1 in this format have gone on to win the series.

The exception was Cincinnati, which beat Chicago 3-2 in Game 1 in 2002, but then dropped back-to-back 3-2 decisions, including a double-overtime loss in Game 2.

The Wovles went on to win the Calder Cup that season. The Aeros are 9-6 all-time when facing elimination and 4-1 since 2002.

Should a decisive Game 3 be necessary it would be Sunday at 6 p.m. at Houston's Toyota Center.

MIAMI HOCKEY: Coach Enrico Blasi signed three players - one goaltender and two defenseman, all from Illinois - to letters of intent for next season. They are blueliners Charley Fetzer and Kevin Roeder and netminder Charlie Effinger. They bring to nine the number of signees for next season: Four forwards, four defensemen and one goaltender.

USA, RUSSIA IN FINAL: The United States reached the final of the under-18 world championships on Friday, beating the Czech Republic 3-2 in Minsk, Belarus.

Bryan Lerg of Livonia, Mich., Tom Fritsche of Parma, Ohio, and Phil Kessel of Madison, Wis., scored for Team USA. It was the fifth straight win for the Americans. The U.S. will play for the title Sunday against Russia, which beat Canada 5-2.

College basketball

KENTUCKY: Adam Williams will attend Fork Union Military Academy instead of going to the University of Kentucky this fall. Williams plans to join the Wildcats after spending a year at the prep school in Fork Union, Va. Kentucky has used all the scholarships it has available under the NCAA's rule limiting Division I teams to five new scholarship players per season, and eight per two seasons. Williams and his father, Tex Williams, agreed to the plan after meeting with UK coach Tubby Smith.

OHIO STATE: Senior Velimir Radinovic, who led the Big Ten in field goal percentage, was selected as OSU's most valuable player. The 7-footer averaged six rebounds and 10.3 points, starting in 29 of 30 games. OSU finished the season 14-16.

Tennis

FAMILY CIRCLE: Fourth-seeded Venus Williams advanced to her first semifinal of 2004, beating Vera Zvonareva 6-3, 6-4 at Charleston, S.C. Williams plays Jelena Kostanic, a 7-6 (4), 6-2 winner over Petra Mandula.

MEN'S CLAY COURT: Fifth-seeded Andrei Pavel held off a late challenge by No. 4 James Blake for a 6-4, 6-4 victory in the quarterfinals in Houston. Top-seeded Andy Roddick took a 10-match winning streak and a 30-5 record this year into a late match against Jurgen Melzer.

ESTORIL OPEN: Marat Safin edged Tommy Robredo 7-6 (2), 2-6, 7-6 (5) to reach the semifinals in Portugal.

Horse racing

KEENELAND: Hirapour took the lead at the top of the stretch and held off Preemptive Strike to win the Grade One Royal Chase for the Sport of Kings. Hirapour went off as the 6-5 favorite in the 2 1/2-mile hurdle race, the richest event on the National Steeplechase Association's spring schedule.

JOCKEY GETS STAY: Jockey Patrick Valenzuela can return from his suspension as early as April 25 because of a temporary stay issued by the chairman of the California Horse Racing Board.