BRIEFS

Field hockey coming to Limestone

Limestone College Director of Athletics Mike Cerino announced Monday that women's field hockey will be added to the Saints sport lineup in the fall of 2009.

The Lady Saints team will be the southernmost NCAA field hockey team in the United States.

Twenty-six institutions sponsor field hockey squads that compete at the NCAA Division II level. Catawba College (Salisbury, N.C.) and Bellarmine University (Louisville, Ky.) will be the only other Division II schools south of Pennsylvania to have programs.

"Field hockey is a wonderful opportunity for Limestone College," Cerino pointed out. "We look forward to being part of its growth in the Southeast. We believe that this will generate interest in the College and enhance Saints athletics as a whole."

Limestone has a strong tradition of bringing emerging sports to the South. Limestone helped pave the way for collegiate lacrosse and swimming in the region. The Saints fielded South Carolina's first collegiate lacrosse team in 1990. The swimming teams are the only NCAA Division II swimming programs in South Carolina and among the few in the two Carolinas.

Gaffney runner advances to state

Gaffney's Austin Steagall has qualified for this Saturday's state cross country championship after his peformance at the 4A Upperstate Qualifier.

Steagall was the lone member of the boys or girls team to qualify.

"Both teams have made great strides this year, but we still have to get a little faster to be able to compete with the top teams in the state," Gaffney cross country coach Kevin Hammett said. "Austin has done a great job this year and will get to see how he matches up with the rest of the state's top talent on Saturday. This will be a good experience for him."

Leftwich may start for Steelers

Byron Leftwich has already shown the Pittsburgh Steelers he can finish. He may get the chance Sunday to prove he can start.

With starter Ben Roethlisberger's status for Sunday's game against the Colts uncertain due to his reinjured right shoulder, the Steelers (6-2) may give Leftwich his first start since last Nov. 18 with Atlanta.

Roethlisberger underwent an MRI exam Tuesday, but the Steelers did not immediately release the results. He reinjured his separated right shoulder on a quarterback sneak near the end of the second quarter Monday night.

Leftwich took over to set up a touchdown with a long completion on his first throw, threw for a score and led another TD drive during a 23-6 win in Washington.

Leftwich's linescore for a short but productive night's work: 7 of 10 for 129 yards, no interceptions and one satisfied locker room as the Steelers preserved their AFC North lead.

"He made a lot of friends in there," coach Mike Tomlin said.

The sore shoulder has bothered Roethlisberger, though he hasn't said how much, since he was hurt Sept. 7 against Houston.

Duke coach staying put

Duke coach David Cutcliffe quashed any speculation about him returning to Tennessee to replace his good friend and former boss, Phillip Fulmer.

"I'm at Duke, staying at Duke," Cutcliffe said Tuesday.

Cutcliffe twice served on Tennessee's staff and spent eight years as the Volunteers' offensive coordinator. He came to Duke last December after a two-year stint in Knoxville.

During a meeting earlier in the day with his Duke players, Cutcliffe said he debunked rumors that named him as a potential candidate to replace Fulmer, who's being forced out at season's end after 17 years with the Volunteers.