In brief: Seattle blanks expansion Philadelphia

MLS: Fredy Montero set up the first goal of the Major League Soccer season, then scored on a diving header that’ll be tough to top all season, and the Seattle Sounders FC started year No. 2 with an impressive 2-0 win over the expansion Philadelphia Union on Thursday night at Seattle.

Just 12 minutes into the new season, Brad Evans beat Philadelphia keeper Chris Seitz off deft passes by Montero and Steve Zakuani. Minutes before halftime, Montero’s diving header redirected Osvaldo Alonso’s drive that looked to be headed wide.

Seattle played without forward Nate Jaqua, who was placed on injured reserve before the game.

FIU football player stabbed to death

College football: A Florida International football player was stabbed to death in an on-campus incident.

University president Mark Rosenberg said in a news release that Kendall Berry was stabbed and that the school is “shocked and saddened.”

Berry was a reserve running back for the Golden Panthers from Haines City, Fla.

Police say the stabbing took place near the rec center on FIU’s main campus, and the school confirmed Berry’s death shortly past 8 p.m. PDT.

•International Bowl off after four years: The International Bowl, the only bowl played outside the U.S., is folding after failing to renew its contract with the Big East.

Aldridge scores 20; Blazers beat Mavs

NBA: LaMarcus Aldridge had 20 points and 10 rebounds and the Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Dallas Mavericks for the third time this season, 101-89 at Portland.

Marcus Camby added 17 points and 11 rebounds for Portland, which won the season series from the Mavericks for the first time since the 1998-99 season.

•Blazers owner supports GM: Trail Blazers owner Paul Allen issued a statement proclaiming his support of general manager Kevin Pritchard as rumors fly concerning Pritchard’s future with the team.

Last week, the Blazers fired Tom Penn, Portland’s vice president of basketball operations, touching off speculation that perhaps Pritchard was next.

Eagles want top 42 pick for McNabb

NFL: A person familiar with trade discussions involving Donovan McNabb told the Associated Press the Philadelphia Eagles will only consider a deal for the six-time Pro Bowl quarterback if it includes a pick among the top 42 in next month’s NFL draft.

•Dolphins’ Brown failed field sobriety test: A police report shows Miami Dolphins running back Ronnie Brown had a blood alcohol level that was nearly twice the legal limit when he was arrested on a DUI charge in suburban Atlanta over the weekend.

The report says Brown failed a field sobriety test and had a blood alcohol level of .158 when given a breath test. The limit to legally drive in Georgia is 0.08.

Edmonds catches on with Milwaukee

MLB: Jim Edmonds is making a comeback with the Milwaukee Brewers after taking the 2009 season off. Edmonds had his minor league contract purchased by the club, giving the 39-year-old a spot on the 40-man roster.

The four-time All-Star is likely headed for a reserve role behind projected starter Carlos Gomez, although Edmonds’ ability to play all three outfield positions gives the Brewers options.

Stamkos leads Lightning past Bruins

NHL: Steve Stamkos scored twice, tying him for the NHL lead with 45 goals, and Paul Szczechura also had a pair of goals to lead the Tampa Bay Lightning to a 5-3 victory over the Bruins at Boston.

•Bowman called up by Hurricanes: Former Spokane Chief Drayson Bowman was recalled by the Carolina Hurricanes. He will fill in for Tuomo Ruutu, who will miss the rest of the season with a shoulder injury.

Bowman ranks third for Albany, Carolina’s AHL affiliate, with 17 goals, and also has 15 assists in 56 games in his first professional season.

California defeats Oregon in WNIT

College women: DeNesha Stallworth scored 28 points and Alexis Gray-Lawson added 23 as California (21-13) beat Oregon (18-16) 71-57 in the third round of the Women’s National Invitation Tournament at Eugene, Ore.

Cal will play BYU in the quarterfinals Saturday in Berkeley, Calif.

Love shares lead in Palmer Invite

Golf: Davis Love III chipped in twice during a five-hole stretch that he played at 6 under early in his round, and later had a 45-foot birdie putt to finish with a 6-under-par 66 and a share of the lead in the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Orlando, Fla.

J.B. Holmes played bogey-free and also had a 66. Spokane native Alex Prugh shot a 2-over 74 and is tied for 76th.

•Min’s 66 good for lead at La Costa: Na On Min shot a bogey-free, 6-under 66 to take a one-shot lead after the first round of the inaugural Kia Classic at La Costa in Carlsbad, Calif.

Na Yeon Choi was one stroke back while Seon Hwa Lee and Inbee Park were two back.

Wendy Ward of Edwall, Wash., shot a 2-over 74 and is tied for 59th.

Japan’s Takahashi wins men’s gold

Figure skating: Olympic bronze medalist Daisuke Takahashi has won the gold medal at the World Figure Skating Championships at Turin, Italy, the first Japanese man to claim the title.

Canada’s Patrick Chan won the silver for a second straight year and France’s Brian Joubert took the bronze.