Ivacic has 4th straight shutout; Revolution beat Toronto 2-0

TORONTO >> Carles Gil and Leo Campana each scored a goal to help New England beat Toronto FC 2-0 on Saturday and the Revolution extended their win streak to four games.

Aljaz Ivacic stopped two shots for the Revolution and has four consecutive shutouts. The 31-year-old has not allowed a goal in 385 minutes, dating to a goal by Sergio Santos in the 65th minute of a 1-0 loss to Cincinnati on April 5.

New England (5-4-1) has won five of its last six — all of Gil’s five goals this season have come during that span — following an 0-3-1 start.

Gil opened the scoring in the 11th minute with a volley from just inside the penalty area. Ilay Feingold raced down the right sideline and chipped a ball-in that was deflected at the near post by defender Nicksoen Gomis, whose header went seemingly directly to Gil for the finish.

Jim Dent, one of the top Black golfers on PGA Tour Champions, dies at age 85

Jim Dent grew up in the caddie yards of Augusta, Georgia, eventually working at the Masters and honing his game at the municipal course known as “The Patch.” He went on to become one of the PGA Tour’s longest hitters and one of the top Black golfers of his generation.

Dent died on Friday at age 85, a week before his birthday, his grandson posted on Facebook. The PGA Tour said on its website that Dent suffered a stroke the day after Augusta National announced plans for Tiger Woods to design a par 3 course at The Patch.

“What I learned about playing golf has probably kept me all through life,” Dent told the USGA for a story in 2012. “You had to be honest. You had to work at it. You just couldn’t pick up today and not come back ‘til next week. And if you broke a rule, you had to turn yourself in.”

Dent worked hard enough on his game that he entered a few United Golfers Association tournaments, a league devote to Black players, moved to California and took lessons from former U.S. Open champion Johnny Goodman.

He finally earned his PGA Tour card through qualifying school in 1970, and while he never won on tour, he kept a full schedule of at least 22 tournaments for the next 16 years. His best result was in the 1972 Walt Disney World Open Invitational, when he trailed Jack Nicklaus by two shots going into the final round. Nicklaus shot 64 and won by nine.

Sabalenka beats Gauff in straight sets to win Madrid Open for 20th career title

MADRID >> No. 1-ranked Aryna Sabalenka beat No. 4 Coco Gauff in straight sets to win her record-tying third Madrid Open and 20th career title on Saturday.

Sabalenka powered through the first set and edged the American in a tiebreaker for 6-3, 7-6 (3) on the Caja Mágica clay court.

Sabalenka added to titles in Madrid in 2021 and 2023 and equaled Petra Kvitova’s tournament record. It was also Sabalenka’s tour-leading third title of the year after Brisbane and Miami. She also pulled level with Gauff on head-to-head with five wins apiece.

Gauff could have risen to No. 2 with a victory. The 2023 U.S. Open champion lost only one set this week until the final. Gauff’s great record in finals slipped to nine wins in 11.

Sabalenka battered Gauff with her drive early on, winning 17 consecutive points during one section for a 4-1 start. When Gauff found her weakness by spreading her shots around, the former champion dug in to force a second-set tiebreaker and crush any chance of a comeback.

— The Associated Press