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*Matt wins men's World Cup season-ending slalom event*
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By Brooke Edwards 
SportsTicker Contributing Editor

LENZERHEIDE, Switzerland (Ticker) - Mario Matt of Austria won
the men's season-ending World Cup slalom, his first victory in
more than four years.

The 2001 world champion in St. Anton, Austria, Matt led after
the first run then posted the third-fastest final run to win
with an aggregate time of 1 minute, 22.81 seconds.

Germany's Alois Vogl, the winner of the grueling slalom in
Wengen, Switzerland, climbed the podium for the second time,
finishing second in 1:23.54.

Austrian Rainer Schoenfelder was third in 1:23.55.

American Bode Miller, fresh off winning the overall and super-G
World Cup title, finished sixth, completing only his second
slalom this season.

Matt's victory marked his first since winning a slalom in Aspen
in 26 November 2001. He also climbed the podium this season
following a second in the Kitzbuehel slalom last January.

The victory has capped a lengthy climb back from injury for
Matt, who dropped out of the top 30 in the discipline rankings
after injuring his shoulder in a crash in Kitzbuehel in 2002.

"It's been very difficult climbing back up," Matt said. "But I
knew I was getting there. I was fast all this season and finally
I won my goal."

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