have to drastically reverse a trend that has seen them win only once in the past 10 matches. San Jose has three losses and three draws since a 2-1 win at Vancouver on Aug. 12 and is just 1

RIO DE JANEIRO -- The U.S. boat was in third place halfway through the race when coxswain Katelin Snyder shouted the magic words: This is the U.S. womens eight!Yes, it was.The crew responded and did what it always does: It won.The U.S. womens eight is a seemingly invincible boat, with 11 consecutive world and Olympic titles since 2006.Only two crew members racing Saturday remained from the boat that won gold in the London Olympics, and only one from Beijing four years earlier.It didnt matter.Canada led after the first 1,000 meters of the 2,000-meter race, with the U.S. in third. But when Snyder unleashed her rallying cry, everyone knew what had to happen.She yelled, `this is the U.S. womens eight! And we rallied, said Kerry Simmonds, who rowed in seat No. 2.Snyder, always playing down her role as the coxswain -- the only person in the boat without oars -- said she told the crew to trust your fitness, and trust the plan and trust your teammates.But what about the tradition of the U.S. womens eight -- a dynasty that stands out in team sports?I did say that, she said, bashfully. I think it was in the third 500 (meters). And everyone was going together. I was going with them and they were going with me.Meghan Musnicki, who also rowed the eight in London, said Snyders call referred to the entire womens team, including the rowers who were cut in the fierce competition to make the Olympics.Its an honor to be part of such an amazing group of women and feel like every single one of them is rooting for you and has your back, Musnicki said.Tom Terhaar, head coach of the womens rowing team since 2001, said the big pool of rowers fighting for a spot in the eight helps account for the U.S. success.If one has a bad year they dont make it. Which is hard, but sport is hard, he said. Fortunately weve been able to figure out the top crew pretty consistently.The U.S. crew won the race in 6 minutes, 1.49 seconds. As Canada faded after its aggressive start, Britain took the silver and Romania the bronze.It was the first U.S. gold medal in the rowing regatta and second overall, after Genevra Stones silver in the womens single sculls.Britain had never medaled before in the womens eight. Jessica Eddie, whos rowed in Britains eight since 2005, hopes the silver will inspire younger rowers to challenge the U.S. winning streak.Ive been here getting beaten by the Americans for the past 11 years, Eddie said. I hope this will trickle down and that women who will now be coming into the sport for the next four, eight, 12 years can believe they can do it.Denis Potvin Islanders Jersey . Oaklands loss to Seattle clinched the ALs best record for the Red Sox with one day to spare in the regular season. "I think everybody was kind of watching," catcher David Ross said. "Demp (Ryan Dempster) came out before he went to the bullpen and was just yelling that they lost. Nick Leddy Islanders Jersey . -- Team after team passed on Andre Ellington in the draft. http://www.islanderssale.com/authentic-thomas-greiss-islanders-jersey/ . -- The plastic that was taped across the lockers in Oaklands clubhouse came down and the champagne that was on ice went back into the cooler. Ryan Pulock Jersey . -- Running backs Darren McFadden and Rashad Jennings were back at practice for the Oakland Raiders on Wednesday despite being hampered by hamstring injuries. Bryan Trottier Jersey . Miikka Kiprusoff had just announced his retirement after a decade-long run in Calgary and it would be up to Berra and Ramo to fill the void.It didnt seem that long ago that the Montreal Impact were among the top teams in MLS and in the hunt for the Eastern Conference championship.Three losses in a four-game winless stretch, however, sunk the Impacts title hopes and has forced the club to scramble for playoff spot. Montreal will look to alter its recent fortune on Wednesday when the reeling San Jose Earthquakes pay a visit.The Impact (9-10-11, 38 points) are in fifth place in the Eastern Conference with four matches remaining, just one point ahead of D.C. United and two in front of New England as the three teams battle for the conferences final two postseason spots.A win could help Montreal move closer to surpassing Philadelphia for the No. 4 seed, which comes with a first-round home playoff game.San Jose (7-9-13, 34 points) is in ninth place in the Western Conference with five matches to play.One of the keys to success for Montreal is finding a way to get striker Didier Drogba on track. The Ivory Coast national had 11 goals in 11 appearances in 2015 for the Impact but has just 10 in 21 games this season.Drogba, who signed with the Impact in the summer of 2015, had only one shot in 46 touches in Montreals 1-0 loss at the New York Red Bulls on Saturday.The second year, its always a more difficult one, Montreal coach Mauro Bielloo said.dddddddddddd Opposing defenders are getting ready to face him. At the end, hes having chances at home to score goals. Its about finding that bounce and hopefully it will turn for him.The Earthquakes are still eligible to earn a playoff berth but will have to drastically reverse a trend that has seen them win only once in the past 10 matches. San Jose has three losses and three draws since a 2-1 win at Vancouver on Aug. 12 and is just 1-3-6 since July 16.San Jose likely will be without starting forward Quincy Amarikwa, who suffered a leg injury on Saturday in the Earthquakes 2-1 loss at home to Sporting Kansas City.The midweek match is a quick turnaround for San Jose after Saturdays loss. After a cross-continent trip to Montreal, the Earthquakes fly back home to face Real Salt Lake on Oct. 1, a third match in eight days.It is a very important game, Earthquakes defender Andres Imperiale said. Montreal is a team that plays very well, especially at home, so for us it is going to be difficult. It is going to be a long flight. It is not easy when you play three games and have to fly so we have to recover, we have to be honest with ourselves and be 100 percent. ' ' '