Slutskaya, Plushchenko First at Skating Event

Irina Slutskaya was hesitant in her still-developing free program but assured enough to win the Cup of Russia Grand Prix on Saturday at St. Petersburg as Russians dominated.

Yevgeny Plushchenko failed to complete a new quad lutz and fell on a quad toe loop, yet still won the men’s competition, while Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze won the pairs by performing an old free program with precision and verve.

Slutskaya’s presentation earned her scores of 5.8 and 5.9, pulling her into first place despite technical marks from 5.5 to 5.7 on Friday. She earned a spot in the Grand Prix final in Kitchener, Canada, in December.

Russia’s Viktoria Volchkova was second, with an elegant program that showed off her jumping ability.

Angela Nikodinov of San Pedro finished third. She started well but faded, putting a hand down coming out of a triple toe loop and managing only a single rotation on a lutz late in the program.

“I’m still getting used to the program,” Nikodinov said. “I’m getting better and better. I hope to peak in the nationals.”

Sonja Wiedemann of Germany held off Becky Wilczak of the United States to win the women’s Viessmann Luge World Cup at Lake Placid, N.Y.

Wilczak, of River Forest, Ill., began the day in second place and had the fastest second run with a time of 44.854 seconds, but she couldn’t make up the edge Wiedemann built Friday with a track-record first run of 44.021.

Risto Jussilainen of Finland won a World Cup ski jumping competition under the lights, scoring 253.9 points on jumps of 127.5 meters in the first round and 123 in the second to take first place at Kuorio, Finland. Americans Alan Alborn and Clint Jones finished 11th and 12th, respectively.

Pro Football

Indianapolis Colt Coach Jim Mora was fined $10,000 by the NFL for criticizing the officiating in a loss to Miami on Nov. 11.

Mora cited two calls--a challenge of Sam Madison’s interception in the first half that was not reversed and a non-call on a third-down pass to Marvin Harrison with 5:30 left in the game that Mora thought was pass interference.

St. Louis Ram receiver Az-Zahir Hakim was downgraded from probable to questionable for Monday’s game against Tampa Bay because of a sprained ankle, but Coach Mike Martz said Hakim could play.

Miami Dolphin starting defensive tackle Daryl Gardener had back surgery in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Gardener, 28, had laser surgery to remove disk fragments and scar tissue at Holy Cross Hospital. The Dolphins said they will address his status for the rest of the season, but Gardener’s agent, Neil Schwartz, has said that he will be lost for the season.

Golf

Stuart Appleby shot a four-under-par 67 to share a three-stroke lead with Australian compatriot Scott Laycock after three rounds of the Australian Open at Gold Coast.

Both are at seven-under 206 entering the last round of the $750,000 tournament. Ernie Els of South Africa finished with a 73 and is three shots back. Laycock shot a 71.

Kiyoshi Murota of Japan equaled a course record with a nine-under 63 and held a four-stroke lead over Sergio Garcia of Spain after three rounds of the $1.16-million Casio World Open at Kaimon, Japan. Murota is at 20-under 196, with Garcia and Dinesh Chand of Fiji in second place. Garcia shot a 66 and Chand shot a 64.

Miscellany

Former New Jersey Net star Jayson Williams, who now works for NBC Sports, was charged with pushing a police officer after an argument at a bar in Branchburg, N.J. Williams was charged with obstruction and released, police said. A hearing is scheduled for Dec. 5.

Williams is a studio commentator for NBC’s NBA telecasts. He could not be reached for comment Saturday.

Patrolman Roger Schneider responded to commotion at the bar at about 1:50 a.m. Thursday, Sgt. Robert Lyle said. Lyle did not know if Williams was involved in the original argument but said that Williams pushed Schneider twice.

Rain postponed the NCAA third-round women’s soccer match between UCLA and Dayton at Drake Stadium. The match is rescheduled for today at 1 p.m.

In the men’s tournament, the Bruins will play at San Diego today at 1 p.m. in the second round. UCLA defeated Loyola Marymount, 3-2, in double overtime Friday.

Mike McAlamen scored in the 58th minute for the decisive goal as Richard Stockton College of New Jersey won its first NCAA Division III men’s soccer championship with a 3-2 victory over Redlands at Messiah College in Grantham, Pa.

Redlands (20-4) got two goals from Justin Wells, including the game-tying goal off an assist from Eric Rowling in the 50th minute.

John Epley gave the Ospreys (26-1) a 1-0 lead in the fourth minute but Wells’ unassisted goal tied it. Greg Ruttler’s goal gave the Ospreys a 2-1 lead.

Two-time world champion Carlos Sainz went off the road and his car plowed into a spectator area during the British Rally, leaving 13 hospitalized. None were in life-threatening condition at West Wales General Hospital, police said.

Bill Berletic, a junior defensive back for Pace University, was killed in an automobile accident Tuesday in Pleasantville, N.Y. Berletic, 20, of New City, N.Y., died when the car he was driving was involved in an accident with a truck.

Bulvaisa Saitiev of Russia captured his fourth world championship with a 3-1 victory over Korea’s Eui-Jae Moon in the 168-pound weight class at the wrestling world championships in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Saitiev narrowly defeated American Joe Williams, 5-4, in the semifinals after the judges ruled Williams had stepped outside the mat on a spectacular throw that brought down Saitiev.

In the women’s competition, defending world champion Christine Nordhagen of Canada defeated American Toccara Montgomery, 4-1, to win the gold medal at 150 pounds.

The Tacoma Sabercats defeated the Ice Dogs, 5-3, in a West Coast Hockey League game at Long Beach Arena. The Ice Dogs are 9-4-1.