Bays

There was a certain electricity in the air last night as professional indoor soccer made its debut at Du Burns Arena in historic Canton.A standing-room-only crowd of 945 packed its way into the building to see what the Baltimore Bays of the U.S. Interregional Soccer League were all about. They were not disappointed.The Bays dominated the Hampton Roads Hurricanes from start to finish and rolled to a 13-2 victory in the season opener for the home team.Former Blast standouts Mark Mettrick and Billy Ronson showed why they were outstanding players in the now defunct Major Soccer League, as they combined for three goals and three assists.

For many years, it looked as if there never would be a challenge match between the Baltimore Blast and the Maryland Bays.The Bays wanted it, and soccer fans enjoyed speculating abouthe outcome of such a game.But Blast coach Kenny Cooper wanted no part of it. He oftesaid his team could only be the loser because everybody expected the Blast to win even if the game was played outdoors.Cooper also worried about injuries to his players.But Cooper has relented, and the game will be played in May oearly June, depending on when the Blast finishes its season.

The Maryland Bays introduced their new coach, Gary Hindley, and announced the signing of U.S. National Team member Bruce Murray during a news conference at the Columbia Inn yesterday.Hindley, who coached the Orlando Lions of the American Professional Soccer League for the last two seasons, became available when he was left without a team after the Lions merged with Fort Lauderdale last fall.The Bays also are the result of a merger, having absorbed players from the defunct Washington Stars and Washington Diplomats.

Gary Hindley, the coach of the Maryland Bays, is keeping an eye on some delicate chemistry experiments this week.National team players Jeff Agoos, Desmond Armstrong and Bruce Murray practiced with the Bays for the first time this week, vTC and Hindley is most interested to see how they mix in with the defending American Professional Soccer League champions.One ingredient has already been successfully added. George Gelnovatch was signed to a Bays contract in mid-April, and he's performed ably at stopper in a 2-0 exhibition win over the Blast and last week's season-opening 2-1 road victory against the Penn-Jersey Spirit.

From the first day of indoor practice through each of their 11 on-the-field regular-season wins, the Baltimore Bays have had this weekend in mind.Now, with the best from the U.S. Interregional Soccer League showcased at Du Burns Arena, coach Kevin Healey and his Bays are looking to bring an indoor soccer championship to Baltimore."

Duane Robinson scored three goals and Andy Williams added one as the North Jersey Imperials defeated the Baltimore Bays, 4-1, in a U.S. Inter-regional Soccer League game last night at UMBC Stadium.Rob Elliott scored for the Bays (1-7). The Imperials (5-4) outshot Baltimore 12-8. The Bays travel to Ann Arbor and Detroit next week.North Jersey ..2 ..2 ..-- ..4Bays .. .. .. .1 ..0 ..-- ..1

Desmond Armstrong, 26, has played soccer at the highest indoor and outdoor levels in the United States, but never for the hometown Maryland Bays.Armstrong will make his debut for the Bays at 7 tonight in the team's American Professional Soccer League home opener against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers at Cedar Lane Park in Columbia.Armstrong's soccer credentials are impressive, highlighted by last summer's World Cup, in which he was a starting defender for the U.S. national team.For Armstrong, it all began in the youth soccer leagues in Columbia.

"TC There is nothing flamboyant about Joe Layfield, the newest scoring star for the Baltimore Bays.He rarely says a word, seldom shows much emotion and has nothing to prove to anybody.Layfield is just a well-mannered 23-year-old who is getting a chance to play professional soccer indoors.And does he ever appreciate it? Just every day of his life.It's been a long wait for the graduate of Calvert Hall and Towson State, who thought he would be playing in the Major Soccer League in the 1992-93 season after being drafted by the Blast in February 1992.

It was supposed to be a different story the second time around for the Baltimore Bays.The defensive problems they experienced in their inaugural U.S. Interregional Soccer League outdoor season last year were patched up with the additions of veteran Steve Nichols and former Loyola College standout Bill Harte.They were coming off an exceptional indoor season over the winter that saw them go unbeaten during the regular season.Coach Kevin Healey said expectations were high going into their second outdoor season.

When the Maryland Bays lost coach Pete Caringi to the head coaching job at UMBC, Bays owner John Liparini had no idea what an impressive lineup would come through the door to interview for Caringi's old job."I've got to narrow it to one by the end of the week, and it won't be an easy decision," said Liparini. "They're all good, competitive people and each one comes with his own different outlook and viewpoints."Yesterday, Liparini interviewed two former Blast players: goalkeeper Keith Van Eron and forward David MacWilliams.