HOCKEY

AHL makes rule changes, adopts divisional playoffs

The American Hockey League announced a new playoff format and rule changes that mirror the NHL on Friday, following the conclusion of the annual meeting of the league’s board of governors on Thursday.

The first round of the playoffs will be within the division, with the top four teams from each of four divisions qualifying. However, if a fifth-place team in the Atlantic or Central division has a better record than the fourth-place team in the North or Pacific division it will cross over to compete in the other bracket.

The league also will the follow the NHL in adopting a three-on-three, 5-minute, sudden-death overtime format, requiring defending players to put their sticks on the ice first for faceoffs and implementing a coach’s challenge system for video reviews.

SOCCER

NATIONAL PREMIER LEAGUE: Seacoast United lost 2-1 to Campton United to fall to 0-2 in pool play at the U16 division finals in Westfield, Indiana.

Seacoast, made up of 21 players from Maine, concludes pool play against Sacramento United at 1 p.m. Saturday. Sacramento is 1-0-1.

U.S. MEN’S TEAM: Clint Dempsey scored in the 47th minute to give the United States a 1-0 victory over Haiti in a CONCACAF Gold Cup match at Foxborough, Massachusetts.

Brad Guzan made a pair of point-blank saves in the second half for the Americans. The defending champions improved to 2-0 in the opening round and clinched the group title. They will play in a quarterfinal in Baltimore on July 18.

FIFA: The United States returned to the top of the women’s rankings after winning the World Cup, toppling Germany.

France and Japan were next, followed by England.

CYCLING

TOUR DE FRANCE: British rider Mark Cavendish won the sun-soaked seventh stage of the Tour de France in a sprint finish, while compatriot Chris Froome retained the overall lead as he bids to win the race for a second time.

Cavendish, seeking his first Tour stage win since 2013 after crashing out of last year’s race, timed his attack to perfection to catch German sprinter Andre Greipel right near the line to clinch his 26th career Tour stage win.

BASEBALL

NECBL: Sam Dexter had three of Sanford’s 11 singles as the host Mainers (12-12) batted their way to a 5-1 victory over the Keene Swamp Bats (7-18).

Ben Wessel held Keene scoreless over eight innings, allowing five hits and two walks while striking out six.

TWILIGHT LEAGUE: Sam Kozlowski scored when Mason Morgan’s swinging bunt was bobbled in the bottom of the seventh, lifting Aero Heating (8-4) to a 4-3 win against Edge Academy (3-9) in Standish.

Edge took a 3-2 lead when Ben Crocker’s RBI single capped a three-run fifth.

Aero tied it in the bottom of the inning, and reliever Owen Kimmel held Edge hitless in the final two innings while striking out five.

• Ryan Riordon had three hits, including two doubles, with three runs scored and six RBI to leading Lenders Network (11-1) to a 17-4 victory over Patriot Insurance (2-10) in South Portland.

NCBL: Richard Colla drove in the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning, sending the Old Orchard Beach Surge (9-17) to a 6-5 victory over Road City Explorers (18-11) at The Ballpark.

Joe Coyne tied it at 5 with a two-run double for the Surge in the seventh.

– From staff and news services