Briefs | Soccer: U.S. women blank Norway in friendly

Soccer

U.S. women beat Norway: Midfielder Lindsay Tarpley scored an early goal, and the United States beat Norway 4-0 on Wednesday in Fredrikstad, Norway, in a tuneup for the Olympics.

Carli Lloyd, Angela Hucles and Abby Wambach added goals for the Americans, an Olympic favorite along with Norway, Brazil and Germany. The United States improved to 19-0 this year.

Goalkeeper Hope Solo, the former Huskies standout from Richland, earned the shutout.

Colleges

Fulmer, Pearl get extensions: Tennessee signed football coach Phillip Fulmer and men's basketball coach Bruce Pearl to new deals that will keep them with the Volunteers through 2014.

Fulmer's deal is worth an average of nearly $3 million over the next seven seasons, and the nearly $1 million raise makes him the fourth-highest-paid coach in the Southeastern Conference.

Pearl was previously signed through 2013 and made $1.3 million last season. His new deal increases his salary to an average of $2.3 million a year.

NHL

Malkin re-signs with Penguins: MVP finalist Evgeni Malkin, 21, signed a five-year extension worth $43.5 million with the Pittsburgh Penguins. The deal will keep him under contract until 2013-14 and is equal to one signed last year by teammate Sidney Crosby.

The Penguins also signed a six-year, $22.5 million contract with defenseman Brooks Orpik.

Earlier, the Penguins lost right wing Marian Hossa to the Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings and left wing Jarkko Ruutu to the Ottawa Senators.

The Penguins reportedly offered Hossa $7 million per year for as few as five years or as long as seven years. Instead, he took Detroit's $7.4 million, one-year offer because he felt it was his best chance to win the Stanley Cup.

Islanders land Weight: The New York Islanders agreed to terms with center Doug Weight, 37, on a one-year deal worth $1.75 million plus incentives.

Avery to Stars: The Dallas Stars signed free-agent left wing Sean Avery to a $15.5 million, four-year deal.

Rangers, Blue Jackets swap prospects: The Columbus Blue Jackets traded enigmatic offensive star Nikolai Zherdev and center Dan Fritsche to the New York Rangers for defensemen Christian Backman and Fedor Tyutin.

The Blue Jackets signed left wing Kristian Huselius to a four-year, $19 million deal.

Hurricanes make changes: The Carolina Hurricanes signed former Pittsburgh defenseman Josef Melichar to a one-year contract worth $1 million and gave restricted free-agent defenseman Joni Pitkanen a three-year deal worth $12 million, a day after trading with Edmonton for the offensive-minded defenseman. Carolina sent franchise favorite Erik Cole to the Oilers.

Canucks want Sundin: The Vancouver Canucks have offered Toronto Maple Leafs captain Mats Sundin a $20 million, two-year deal that would make him the highest-paid player in the NHL. The Canucks signed center Ryan Johnson to a two-year, $2.2 million deal.

Track and field

Montgomery to enter plea: Former Olympic gold medalist Tim Montgomery, who had been scheduled for trial next week in Richmond, Va., on heroin-distribution charges, instead has opted for a plea hearing today.

Montgomery previously had pleaded not guilty and requested a jury trial on the charge, which carries a minimum five-year prison term.

Pistorius short of qualifying time: Double-amputee sprinter Oscar Pistorius finished fourth in the 400 meters in Milan, Italy, in his first able-bodied race in nearly a year. The South African finished in 47.78 seconds. He needs a 45.55 to qualify for the Olympics.

Boxing

Joval to face McGirt: Middleweight contender Raymond Joval (37-4, 16 KO's) is scheduled to face prospect James "Buddy" McGirt Jr. (18-1, 9 KO's) in the 10-round main event July 25 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Yanez to appeal removal: Light flyweight Luis Yanez will fight his removal from the U.S. Olympic team after requesting a hearing next week to appeal USA Boxing's decision.

Drag racing

NHRA shortens top division races: Eleven days after Scott Kalitta was killed in a racing accident, the NHRA reduced the length of Top Fuel and Funny Car races from a quarter-mile to 1,000 feet in an interim safety measure.

College basketball

Hoosiers to give up two scholarships: Indiana will give up two scholarships for the coming season in anticipation of penalties from the NCAA.

Seattle Times news services