MILAN, Italy — Simone Pepe fired Juventus to a 1-0 win at Lazio on Saturday in clash between the top two Serie A teams. Dez Bryant Jersey . The midfielder scored with a crisp shot from the centre of the area in the 34th minute to give Juventus a one-point lead in the standings. Udinese is next after beating Roma 2-0 on Friday but has played one match more, as has Lazio, which is three points back. “We are happy because we won a game against a very strong team,” Juve coach Antonio Conte said. “They will fight until the end for the top spots. “Theres a lot to improve but were happy. We were always in the game and never stopped looking for a second goal. It showed our maturity and even though we suffered, we still managed to win.” Also Saturday, Napoli striker Edinson Cavani struck in stoppage time to secure a 1-1 draw with Atalanta after German Denis had scored his 10th goal of the season against his former side. At the bottom of the table, Goals from Raffaele Rubino and Marco Rigoni enabled 10-man Novara to come from behind to defeat Parma 2-1 and Catania scored a last-minute goal to win 1-0 at Lecce. Lazio should have taken the lead moments before Juventus went in front. Hernanes sent Tommaso Rocchi clear, but goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon proved why he is Italys No. 1 with a brilliant stop to deny the Lazio captain from point-blank range. The home side was to rue that missed opportunity. Juve raced down the other end, and Alessandro Matri latched onto Mirko Vucinics through ball before crossing for Pepe to score. Hernanes did manage to beat Buffon on the hour mark, only to see his effort crash back off the left post. Juventus should have sealed the game in the 73rd minute but Lazio goalkeeper Federico Marchetti pulled off a stunning save to keep out Emanuele Giaccherinis close-range effort. “Were pleased with our performance,” Lazio coach Edy Reja said. “We fought at the same level as Juve. There was a couple of moments where we just didnt have the luck, like when Hernanes hit the post. And from us possibly going in front they then went in front. “I think this is Juves year especially seeing as theyre not in European competition.” Atalanta would have moved up to seventh with victory against Napoli and it seemed to have secured all three points after the leagues leading scorer struck again. Denis shouldered his way through the Napoli defence before rifling a low shot past goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis. However, Cavani is also on a hot streak of form after his double against Manchester City in the Champions League midweek. And in stoppage time Mario Santanas mis-hit shot fell to Cavani to tap home from six yards and snatch a share of the spoils. “We didnt steal anything,” Cavani said. “We did our game, always looking to win. It wasnt a robbery, thats football. But this draw seems almost like a victory because of the way it happened. “The teams not dependent on me. Im doing well but I need the support of everyone to give my best. Now we have to be super focused for Tuesdays match against Juventus.” Elsewhere, Novara rose to 17th position in the standings, above Bologna on goal difference and two points in front of Lecce, which was on the verge of earning a point against Catania before Pablo Barrientos pounced. Parma had several chances to take the lead early in the first half, including Stefano Morrone blazing Francesco Valianis cross over the bar. Moments later, Valiani also found Graziano Pelle in a good position in the area, but Novara goalkeeper Alberto Fontana did well to block the shot. Fontana was on hand again in the 27th to deny Pelle, turning the Parma strikers shot around the post for a corner. However, he could do nothing two minutes later when Novaras Matteo Centurioni slid into a tackle but only succeeded in diverting Jonathan Biabianys cross into the bottom right corner. Novara stepped up its game at the end of the first half and came close to getting an equalizer. Parma goalkeeper Antonio Mirante did well to keep out Rubinos point-blank shot in stoppage-time. Novara finally levelled in the 70th minute when Rubino jumped highest to head home Rigonis cross across the face of goal. And the struggling side was in front eight minutes later when Andrea Mazzarani raced down the right flank before crossing for Rigoni to head home from 12 yards. The only sour note of the night for Novara came in the 87th minute when Giuseppe Gemiti was shown a straight red card for a bad foul on Biabiany. Novaras victory will add to Lecces misery. Eusebio Di Francescos men seemed to be heading for a valuable point following a lively game at the Stadio Via del Mare. Catania had several opportunities to go in front but Lecce goalkeeper Massimiliano Benassi was outstanding in denying Gonzalo Bergessio and Gennaro Delvecchio. Lecces best chance came at the end of the first half when Andrea Bertolacci saw his shot scrape just the wrong side of the post. There was nothing Benassi could do right at the end, when Barrientos struck from 30 yards to snatch all three points for Catania, which moves into sixth place. London Fletcher Jersey . The Canucks lead the entire NHL with 64 points this season and Alain Vigneaults club has 19 wins over its last 24 games, dating back to late- November. Vancouver also has just one regulation loss over its last 19 games, posting a 15-1-3 record over that span. Michael Floyd Womens Jersey . The Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner took advantage of a newly-implemented designated training time for Belmont Stakes horses with his typical 1 1/2-mile gallop, the same distance as the race on June 9. Sam Bradford Youth Jersey . “I have enjoyed my time at Manchester City very much indeed,” Eriksson said in a statement released by the club, which said his departure was by mutual consent. Mexican Football Federation president Justino Compean said in a radio interview last week Eriksson was the top choice to replace coach Hugo Sanchez, who was fired March 31. Trent Cole Jersey . — Chris Wondolowski scored his MLS-leading 14th goal to cap a wild comeback and the San Jose Earthquakes beat the Los Angeles Galaxy 4-3 Saturday. Patrick Peterson Jersey .8-million Montreal Championship seniors golf tournament at Richelieu Valley Golf Club. Couples pulled out with a recurring back issue, while Price also cited an injury. Tweet Moncton Wildcats defenseman Brandon Gormley could be the first defenseman taken in the 2010 Entry Draft on June 25 in Los Angeles. If it happens, its the result of making a plan and seeing it through to fruition. When making a journey — whether its from Murray River, P.E.I., to the NHL, or from Moncton, N.B., to Los Angeles — its always nice to have a road map. Gormley had one in Stanley Cup champion Brad Richards of the Dallas Stars. Gormley and Richards grew up 10 miles apart on Prince Edward Islands southeast coast, Richards in Murray Harbor and Gormley in Murray River. Richards sister, Paige, used to babysit Gormley. “I know the family and know hes been a good hockey player growing up,” said Richards, the 2004 Conn Smythe Trophy winner with the triumphant Tampa Bay Lightning. “Hes a lot younger than me. I wasnt around to see him play youth hockey because Id already left home. My dad always keeps me updated on the young players coming up in that little town. Its small, so you always hear if someones doing something like that. “He followed the path I took, going to Notre Dame Prep in Saskatchewan and then back to the QMJHL. So Ive kept up a lot closer now. Its a lot easier to follow his career.” “We sat down with Brads parents before I went to Notre Dame and they gave me the lowdown on what to expect,” Gormley said of attending the famed hockey factor in Wilcox, Sask. Besides Richards, the schools alums include Wendel Clark, Curtis Joseph, Tyler Myers Vincent Lecavalier and Rod BrindAmour. “Brad has been great, especially with the upcoming draft and the Memorial Cup. Hes been through that. He sent me a text (before the Memorial Cup) saying best of luck, and stuff like that. Its nice to have someone who already went through it. “In the Memorial Cup he texted me after we lost our first game and he told me to re-focus for the next one. Thats basically it. Just re-focus and play your game.” “They had a tough loss in the first game,” Richards said. “They were winning late in the third period and gave up a fluky goal and they lost. So it was more a tough break. I just told him, Keep your head up, keep going. “His dad, Darren, talks with my dad, Glen, a lot more than Ive talked with Brandon. Theyve gotten advice through the family. Hes now with Pat Morris, my agent. We set that up, that conversation. Obviously, if they would like him they would keep him and they did. So, I think through my dad and his dad, theyve had a lot of discussions on the different paths hes taken.” Richards led the Rimouski Oceanic to the QMJHL title and Memorial Cup championship in 2000. Gormley led the Wildcats to the QMJHL title this season, but his team was eliminated from the Memorial Cup after losing its first three games. 2010 NHL ENTRY DRAFT Connolly injury woes make him a tough call By Adam Kimelman – NHL.com Staff Writer Theres no denying Brett Connollys skill level, but this season the Prince George forward was too hurt to fully showcase himself. So how will teams still judge him at the Draft? READ MORE › RELATED CONTENT: Portland was popular site for NHL scouts Good decision-making seems to be a Fowler trait Beukeboom, Archibald complement each other well McPhee: Outlook still bright despite disappointment Hurricanes, Oilers will be busiest at Draft ALL 2010 ENTRY DRAFT STORIES › “I was texting him a little bit through the Memorial Cup and Im sure Ill be texting him again on Draft day to wish him luck and all that stuff,” Richards said.Kevin Ogletree Jersey. “Maybe we can get the Dallas Stars to trade up to a higher pick (from No. 11) and take him.” Gormley is quick to acknowledge how much he admires Richards and how his older neighbors success has inspired him. “You have to have a role model and you have to believe in yourself, thats the big thing,” Gormley said. “Some kids in my community dont believe in themselves, that they can do it. For him to do it and have the success he did, in the Memorial Cup and the NHL, winning the Stanley Cup and the Conn Smythe, its definitely something to model off. “Paige babysat me and my sister when we were young. Brad was just entering the Quebec league at the time, so he wasnt around much. Brad and his whole family have been a big influence on me and my career and my decisions. They were a big part of me going to Notre Dame and they pretty much got me where I am today.” Partly true, but Gormley isnt giving himself enough credit. Hes a solidly built 6-foot-2 and 185 pounds and his skating is superb, as is his on-ice awareness. Gormley is that rare defender than can control the tempo of play from the blue line. Hes smooth carrying the puck and he doesnt telegraph his passes. In his first couple of strides with the puck, Gormley evokes visions of Brian Leetch and Paul Coffey — head up, seeing the whole ice. “Hes very calm back there,” Richards said. “I think when he gets a little older hell probably get a little more involved. That will come with experience. But to be that young and have that poise, I think it all reflects on how hes been brought up and his maturity. You see that in his game, too. Hes very mature for his age.” From the way Gormley and Richards describe it, theres two things to do around Murray River — catch lobsters and play hockey. “This is such a small area, and Glen and Darren used to play on the same teams at the rink here when I was younger,” Richards said. “Theyre both lobster fishermen. You just know everybody, their uncles and everybody. When I was home for Christmas from Notre Dame, Id play in the little Christmas tournaments.” Just as the older generation gave Richards a chance to play with the big guys, Brad was looking out for Gormley last summer. “He came to the golf tournament a couple of times when he was younger,” said Richards. “It was kind of a way to kind of let him hang out with some of the NHL guys and let him in the tournament. You could just see hes a really nice kid and we tried to give him that experience. Its somewhere Ive been able to chat with him and hang out with him.” ‘ ‘ ‘
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