The Enquirer and wire reports

Chris Drury scored a short-handed goal with 4:35 remaining Saturday as the United States rallied for a pair of third-period tallies and a 3-2 victory over Russia at the World Championships in the Czech Republic.

The U.S. team (1-1-1) needed a win to keep alive its hopes for a medal but trailed 2-1 after Dmitri Yushkevich and former Canadiens prospect Andrei Bashkirov scored in the second period.

The Americans tied it 9:54 into the third on a goal by Ryan Malone, who led the Pittsburgh Penguins with 22 during the NHL regular season. Drury broke the deadlock 5 1/2 minutes later, putting in a rebound of a shot by Buffalo Sabres teammate Mike Grier for his second goal of the tournament.

Drury has been a member of championship teams in the Little League World Series, NCAA Frozen Four and the NHL. He has 11 game-winning goals in 80 career Stanley Cup playoff games.

COLLEGE HOCKEY: The NCAA has granted a waiver for 17- and 18-year-old Division I student-athletes that will allow them to enter the 2004 NHL entry draft and still retain college eligibility. One of those players affected is Miami University freshman goalie Steve Hartley.

Hartley, son of Atlanta coach Bob Hartley, backed up fellow freshman and Pittsburgh Penguins draft choice Brandon Crawford-West in goal last season.

Football

HICKS STARS: Cincinnati Bengals running back Skip Hicks' 9-yard touchdown with 43 seconds to play Saturday lifted the Frankfurt Galaxy to a 24-17 victory over the Cologne Centurions in NFL Europe. Hicks' TD offset a comeback by the Centurions, who trailed their German rival 17-3 at the half.

BELL TOILS: Miami RedHawks guard Jacob Bell, drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the fifth round (138th overall), has been getting tutoring from former Bengal Anthony Munoz, the Hall of Fame tackle who heads the firm that represents Bell.

"It's like having Michael Jordan teach you a jump shot," Bell said. "You can't ask for anyone better."

Soccer

ADU STARTS: Dema Kovalenko scored on a header in the 66th minute to give D.C. United a 1-1 tie with San Jose in Freddy Adu's first Major League Soccer start.

The Earthquakes' Troy Dayak opened the scoring in the 33rd minute on a header off Jeff Agoos' free kick.

San Jose paid close attention to Adu, 14, the rookie who came off the bench in his club's first four games.

Brian Mullan fouled Adu in the 70th minute to set up a United free kick just outside the San Jose penalty area. Four minutes later, Adu had an 18-yard shot deflected over the goal line.

United coach Peter Nowak replaced Adu with Alecko Eskandarian in the 80th minute.

"I am just so happy," Adu said. "It is just a great feeling to be able to go out there from the start of the game and play; it is what I have been working so hard for.

"I felt I played OK. I know that I could have done some things better, but we all make some mistakes. I just tried to go at them and play the way I want to play from the beginning of the game."

Tennis

ITALIAN OPEN: Three-time French Open champion Gustavo Kuerten withdrew because of a right hip injury. Kuerten was forced to retire from his quarterfinal match against Gaston Gaudio on Friday in the Barcelona tournament. His withdrawal gives him one more event to play - the Hamburg Masters - before the May 24-June 6 French Open. In Saturday's draw, top-ranked Roger Federer was pitted against Jonas Bjorkman and No. 2 Andy Roddick was slated to face Argentine clay-court specialist Guillermo Canas when play starts Monday.