Sports briefs for January 26, 2004

Monday, Jan. 26, 2004 | 10:01 a.m.

Schneider's hat trick helps Wranglers win

Eric Schneider registered the first hat trick in Las Vegas Wranglers history and led a 6-3 victory Sunday night against the host Fresno Falcons at Save Mart Center.

Cam Bristow, Chris Wheaton and Jeff Attard also scored for the Wranglers (24-11-5), who remained two points behind first-place San Diego in the ECHL Pacific Division. Brent Krahn made 25 saves for the Wranglers in his sixth victory of the season. Jason McBain had three assists.

The Wranglers will return home Tuesday night to the Orleans Arena to face San Diego.

The Falcons, who jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first period, did manage to stop the scoring streak of Wranglers winger Chris Kenday, who was held scoreless for the first time in 12 games.

The Wranglers were playing their first game without forwards Justin Kelly and Doug Wright, who were promoted Saturday to the American Hockey League, Kelly to the Lowell Lock Monsters and Wright to the Chicago Wolves.

No gold for Brazil

Brazil's under-23 team failed to qualify for the 2004 Olympics at Athens, losing a 1-0 decision to Paraguay in the South America qualifying tournament at Vina de Mar, Chile. Brazil, which won its fifth World Cup title in 2002, has never won an Olympic gold medal.

Dutch medalist dies

Fanny Blankers-Koen, who won a record four gold medals in track and field for the Netherlands at the 1948 Olympics, died. She was 85. Blankers-Koen, who was in poor health and suffering from Alzheimer's disease, was honored in 1999 by the International Association of Athletics Federations as the best female athlete of the 20th century.

, Fuzzy was good

Fuzzy Zoeller birdied the final three holds and won the PGA Champions tour season-opening MasterCard Championship by one stroke over Dana Quigley at Kaupulehu-Kona, Hawaii.

A-Rod gets a 'C'

The Texas Rangers appointed shortstop Alex Rodriguez their field captain, a month after the team failed in its attempt to trade him to the Boston Red Sox.