Hale'iwa native Brian Ching's bicycle kick has been named Major League Soccer's Sierra Mist Goal of the Year.

Ching, a forward with the Houston Dynamo, scored against D.C. United Sept. 30. Ching received 31 percent of the votes in the final round.

According to the MLS Web site, Ching didn't vote for himself because of one super supporter.

"I think my mom voted for me enough times that I didn't have to vote for myself," the Kamehameha Schools graduate said on the Web site.

Ching will lead the Dynamo tomorrow against the New England Revolution in the MLS Cup. The game will be broadcast live on ABC at 10:30 a.m. Hawai'i time.

TENNIS

SHARAPOVA ADVANCES TO SEMIFINALS IN SPAIN

U.S. Open champion Maria Sharapova will face French Open champ Justine Henin-Hardenne in today's semifinals of the WTA Championships after beating Svetlana Kuznetsova, 6-1, 6-4, yesterday in Madrid, Spain.

Defending champion Amelie Mauresmo reached the semis when she defeated Henin-Hardenne, 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-2. She will face two-time winner Kim Clijsters, who dispatched Elena Dementieva, 6-4, 6-0.

The Sharapova-Henin-Hardenne clash may also decide who finishes at No. 1. Henin-Hardenne would secure the top ranking if she beats Sharapova, while the 19-year-old Russian must win her second title in three years.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

MARSHALL FORCED TO EVACUATE PLANE

A plane carrying the Marshall football team to Saturday's game at East Carolina was evacuated yesterday after smoke was reported in an engine, emergency officials said.

About 200 people were on board the plane as it was preparing to take off from Tri-State Airport near Huntington, W.Va. No injuries were reported.

The incident came four days before the 36th anniversary of the Marshall plane crash that killed 75 people, including most of the football team, on their way home from a game at East Carolina.

"It's just a mechanical problem. It was a minor thing," said Marshall sports information director Randy Burnside. "They should have this fixed. Everybody's fine."

A spokeswoman with the Federal Aviation Administration did not immediately return a telephone message.

AUTO RACING

GORDON DRIVES TO NASCAR POLE

The honeymoon in the desert continued for Jeff Gordon, who won the pole yesterday at Phoenix International Raceway.

The four-time series champion married Belgian model Ingrid Vandebosch in Mexico on Tuesday, then brought his new bride to the Avondale, Ariz., race track to help him celebrate the 56th pole of his career. He turned a lap of 134.464 mph in his Chevrolet to take the top starting spot for tomorrow's Nextel Cup race.

Kevin Harvick, who won the race here in April, qualified second after posting a lap of 133.973 mph in his Chevrolet.

Brian Vickers qualified third, and was followed by Chase for the championship contender Dale Earnhardt Jr. Joe Nemechek rounded out the top five.