BRIEFS

Lady Saints down Belmont Abbey

The No. 3 Limestone College women's lacrosse team handed Belmont Abbey a 19-3 loss on Tuesday afternoon at Saints Field. Limestone improves 2-0 in Conference Carolinas play (2-1 overall) as the Crusaders fall to 2-1 in the league (2-1 overall).

The Lady Saints outscored Belmont Abbey 14-1 in the first half. The Crusaders' only goal came from a free-position attempt by Laurie Jordan with 18:16 left in the period. Limestone had a 5-2 scoring advantage in the second half.

The Lady Saints outshot the Crusaders 28-22.

Kelly Lickert led Limestone with three goals and three assists.

Melissa Howard, Terri George, Katie Ilott, Summer Ferraro and Kelly Oterson each scored twice for the Lady Saints.

Chrissy Grogg, Shea Farrell, Renee Albro and Marissa Pesce also tallied goals in the victory.

Limestone goalkeeper Erin Cavanaugh recorded nine saves in the first 46 minutes. Michaela Reynolds finished out the game, allowing no goals and posting five saves.

Belmont Abbey had a goal and an assist from Tara Chmil.

Limestone travels to Charlotte on March 1 to face Queens University at noon.

LSU quarterback

won't be on field

Quarterback Ryan Perrilloux is not expected to be on the field when LSU opens spring practice Friday, sports information director Michael Bonnette said Tuesday.

Perrilloux was suspended indefinitely last week by coach Les Miles, who would say only that the 21-yearold had violated unspecified team rules.

Perrilloux, widely expected to take over the starting position after Matt Flynn's departure from the national championship team, missed a mandatory meeting meant to set the tone for the offseason, his high school coach, Larry Dauterive, has said. Dauterive also has said Perrilloux apparently missed classes to attend his father's funeral but didn't notify his coaches. Dale Perrilloux Sr. died Feb. 7. And Perrilloux has since returned to school, Dauterive said.

''An assistant coach tells me he's doing fine, going to class, making his grades, doing everything he's supposed to,'' Dauterive said. ''We'll just have to wait and see if Coach Miles will give him another chance.''

This is at least the third time Perrilloux has been suspended by Miles.

Edwards wins

delayed race

The latest race-winning performance by Carl Edwards was no surprise to his team's co-owner.

''Carl is approaching the top of his game and I hope we'll be able to keep him there for a long time,'' Jack Roush said Monday after Edwards charged from third place late in the race to grab a victory in the raindelayed Auto Club 500.

For Edwards, his eighth Cup victory was a sign that he is back to the form that saw him win four races and finish third in the points in 2005, his first full season in Cup. It was also a signal that at least one Sprint Cup team is ready to take on Hendrick Motorsports.

Edwards finished ahead of Hendrick teammates Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon. In a race that resumed with the 88th of 250 laps, Edwards assumed the lead for good with 13 laps left.

''I hope it's an indication we've caught up with them,'' Edwards said after the eighth victory of his career. ''They still were second and third and they were the guys to beat today. I hope this is a sign we're up to their standards, to their level.''

Johnson took the green flag for the final restart in the lead with 26 laps left, but Edwards surged from third.

He then showed fine form on his traditional victory backflip after capturing the checkered flag in a race that ended under caution when Dale Jarrett spun on the final lap.

Edwards had it all but wrapped up at that point, driving his Roush Fenway No. 99 Ford to a lead of more than 4 seconds over Johnson.