National Professional Soccer

Opponent: Harrisburg HeatSite: State Farm Show Arena, Harrisburg, Pa.Time: 7: 35Radio: WWLG (1360 AM), WASA (1330 AM)Outlook: This is the first meeting of the season between the I-83 rivals. The Heat leads the series, 19-13, and has a 13-4 edge at home. The game will mark the Spirit debut of Bo Vuckovic (from the Tampa Bay Terror) and Jimmy Glenn (from the Cincinnati Silverbacks), both acquired to bolster the National Professional Soccer League's third-worst offense. Domenic Mobilio, back from the Canadian national team, will play his first game for the Heat this season.

PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia Kixx is trying to sign former Spirit star Kevin Sloan.The Oakland Mills High grad, the Spirit's career scoring leader with 307 points the past two seasons, didn't sign this season in order to pursue his dream of playing in Major League Soccer. He didn't make it, settling for the Continental Indoor Soccer League last summer.The National Professional Soccer League announced yesterday that Sloan signed with Philadelphia, but Kixx coach Dave MacWilliams said "there are complications that have to be worked out regarding his CISL status.

The National Professional Soccer League has fined 14 Spirit members and 15 from the Dayton Dynamo for their participation in a third-quarter altercation Sunday in Dayton.The Spirit's Franklin McIntosh and the Dynamo's Jeff De Vettori are also suspended for one game, but contrary to earlier reports, Spirit defender Lance Johnson and Dayton's Chris Pfau will not be suspended. The league ruled their roles were not as serious as previously indicated.The amounts of the fines were not disclosed, but there has been a minimum fine of $75 in the past.

Fernando Clavijo, a defender on the U.S. national team, yesterday joined a growing list of prospects for the Spirit's coaching job.Two local coaches -- UMBC's Pete Caringi and Loyola's Bill Sento -- also are under consideration for the Spirit job and probably will be interviewed this week, sources said.Clavijo, 37, is among 22 players vying to be a part of the U.S. team when it plays in the World Cup."I have an obligation with the World Cup now, but once it's over . . . I will be calling Baltimore," Clavijo said.

Security will be beefed up for the Spirit's visit to Cleveland to play the Crunch in a National Professional Soccer League game Friday night.At the suggestion of Spirit general manager Drew Forrester, concerned that Cleveland fans might vent their anger over losing the Browns on Baltimore's indoor soccer team, Crunch general manager Al Miller agreed to add more security guards. They will be stationed at the Cleveland State University Convocation Center, the game site, and at the hotel where the Spirit will stay tomorrow night.

The Spirit has signed former Harrisburg Heat midfielder John Abe, the club announced yesterday.Abe, 32, is a five-year veteran of the National Professional Soccer League. He was released by the Heat before the season after scoring 31 goals for Harrisburg in 1992-93.Abe, a graduate of Baltimore's Northern High, played at Essex Community College and for the Maryland Bays.The Spirit also placed forward Rob Ukrop on the injured list. Ukrop, a rookie, sustained a broken jaw against Harrisburg on Friday.

Jon Parry scored 12 points on six two-point goals to lead the Spirit to a 23-22 win over the Harrisburg Heat in its final exhibition game yesterday.In the game at Harrisburg's Sports City arena, Parry helped the Spirit overcome a 9-0 first-quarter deficit, ring up 14 third-quarter points and enter the fourth with a 20-16 advantage. Goalies Cris Vaccaro and Joe Mallia each played a half, surrendering 11 points apiece."I'm happy with the way we kept our composure after falling behind 9-0," coach Dave MacWilliams said.

A flurry of moves yesterday put the remaining pieces of the Spirit puzzle in place for at least the start of the season.The club signed veteran defender Mike Stankovic, then sold Jeff Rogers back to the Kansas City Attack. With what vice president Drew Forrester called the "five figure" proceeds from the Rogers sale, the Spirit signed defender David Vaudreuil, a free agent who spent the past three years with the Milwaukee Wave.The Spirit will open its fourth National Professional Soccer League season two weeks from tonight against the Harrisburg Heat.

The Spirit has assigned Billy Reinhardt and five other players to its reserve squad and brought in ex-Temple star Andrew Craig for a tryout, thereby reducing its training camp squad to 16.Rather than accept the assignment immediately, Reinhardt, who played sparingly the past two seasons for the Spirit, is trying out this week with the Harrisburg Heat.Other players assigned to the reserve squad, or farm team, are Matt Ruopp, Dave and Joe Roy, Vince Moskunas and Jeff Causey, who declined because he lives in Virginia.

Opponent: Dayton DynamoSite: Dayton (Ohio) Convention CenterTime: 5:35 p.m.Radio: WWLG (1360 AM), WAMD (970 AM)Outlook: The Spirit stretched its winning streak to three with Friday night's decision over the Harrisburg Heat. In the only previous Baltimore-Dayton meeting this season, Nov. 19 in Baltimore, Jon Parry had four goals in a 23-17 win. Dayton's Dennis Brose became the first player to collect 100 points this season and now leads the National Professional Soccer League with 112. Dayton has two ex-Spirit players in Rob Ukrop and Clark Brisson.