BRIEFLY : IRVIN TRIPPED UP IN FINAL.

Byline: Daily News Wire Services

Zuzana Lesenarova of the University of San Diego reached a high point in her tennis odyssey Friday, outlasting Stanford's Marissa Irvin 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 in the title match of the NCAA women's individual championships in Gainesville, Fla.

Lesenarova, who left the Czech Republic to play college tennis, won the third-set tiebreaker 7-3 to earn her first national title.

Neither player seemed to drag in the match that lasted 2 hours, 14 minutes and was filled with long rallies and enough tension for an entire tournament. Lesenarova set the fatigue and the nervousness aside in the tiebreaker.

``At the point of the tiebreaker, I knew I could do it,'' she said. ``I felt the confidence inside me that I could win.''

Irvin fell just a few points short of a perfect freshman year. The No. 1-ranked junior player last year at Harvard-Westlake High, she quickly ascended to the top spot on the Stanford team, then moved her way up to No. 3 in the college tennis rankings.

Stanford coach Frank Brennan said she is easily among the best freshmen to come to the school in his 20 years there, which has included 10 national team titles.

``Some freshmen take a while to get going, but she started off right away and maintained that all the way,'' he said. ``I think nine matches here catches up on you a little bit. There's a lot of emotion. She's hurting right now, but I think a couple of hours from now, she'll put it in perspective a little bit better.''

Unseeded Eric Drew of Washington made it an all-American semifinals at the NCAA men's tennis championships in Athens, Ga.

The senior eliminated the last foreigner in the field, TCU sophomore Esteban Carril of Spain 6-4, 6-4.

Joining Drew in today's semifinals are Harvard's James Blake, the top seed, Florida's Jeff Morrison, the second seed who will face Drew, and Stanford's four-time All-American Ryan Wolters.

It is the first all-American semifinals since 1989.

NHL: Scotty Bowman stopped just short of labeling himself a lifer, but the most successful coach in NHL history said he'll return to the Detroit Red Wings next season.

``I think it would have been difficult not to come back,'' the 65-year-old said. ``I looked at the alternatives and they didn't look very good.''

The Red Wings made it clear long ago that he will always have a place in the organization. The decision came 10 days after the Red Wings were ousted from the playoffs in their bid for a third straight Stanley Cup.

Bowman, who has won eight Stanley Cups, had angioplasty last July and knee replacement surgery in August. He missed all of training camp and the first five games this past season. Bowman has a 1,100-516-284 regular-season record and a 204-116 playoff record, the most victories of any NHL coach.

Philadelphia Flyers center Eric Lindros has been officially cleared to play hockey again after recovering from the collapsed lung he suffered last month.

GOLF: Rookie Rich Beem, proving he's more than a one-day wonder, shot a yo-yo round of 4-under-par 67 to extend his lead to three strokes at the midway point of the PGA's Kemper Open in Potomac, Md.

Jean Bartholomew came from six strokes back on the back nine to a one stroke lead with a 64 that left her at 7-under 137 for two rounds of the LPGA's Corning Classic in New York.

Brian Barnes shot a 7-under 65 for a one-stroke lead after the opening round of the PGA Senior Tour's Boone Valley Classic in Augusta, Mo.

CAPTION(S):

Photo

Photo: SCOTTY BOWMAN

All-time winningest NHL coach will return with Red Wings.