National Soccer Coaches

COLLEGE PARK -- Some observers consider the Maryland men's soccer team extremely young. Others view the Terrapins as very experienced.Yet everyone seems to agree where Maryland stands on the national scene.On the first media day in coach Sasho Cirovski's seven seasons at Maryland, the Terrapins fielded questions about the growing expectations, since two national publications selected them in their top three.The rankings -- No. 3 by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America and No. 2 by Soccer America -- represent the best preseason standings for the Terps under Cirovski.

BaseballDevil Rays: Agreed to one-year contract with C John Flaherty. Sent OF Luke Wilcox outright to Triple-A Durham.Rangers: Placed IF Domingo Cedeno on waivers for purpose of giving him unconditional release.BasketballSioux Falls (CBA): Activated F Devin Gray (St. Frances).CollegeNational Soccer Coaches Association of America: Named Towson University F Richie Moller to All-America second team and Maryland M Keith Beach to third team.Arkansas: Named Alan Kirkup women's soccer coach; he had been at Maryland.

WASHINGTON -- Thousands of soccer enthusiasts will swarm Washington's Woodley Park area this week for the 48th annual National Soccer Coaches Association of America Convention at the Sheraton Washington Hotel.The function opens to the public today and ends Sunday, and is expected to exceed the record turnout two years ago in Baltimore.The preregistration of 2,268 tops by 350 the Baltimore advance number when 2,677 attended, said NSCAA executive director Jim Sheldon. Sheldon said he expects a walk-up registration of 600.Additionally, 671 exhibitors operating 300 booths and 452 NSCAA All-America players will attend, Sheldon said.

North County soccer coach Steve Malone has been chosen the Met Life National Soccer Coaches Association of America South Region Coach of the Year.He is one of eight regional winners. One of the eight will be chosen national coach of the year, an award that will be presented during the NSCAA's convention next month in Atlanta.Malone led his team to a 12-2 finish and a state playoff appearance in 1990, but, he said, that wasn't the only consideration."It's also based on your career," said Malone, who spent 23 years at Andover before becoming coach of North County this year after Andover and Brooklyn Park merged.

One day early last year, Joshua Walters was a high school girls soccer coach in Tallahassee, Fla., preparing his team for a regional playoff game. Just a couple of months later, in April, he was stationed in Afghanistan as a first lieutenant in the Florida National Guard, watching a girl die in his arms. "It pushed me," said Walters, 27. "I went to my boss and said `I've got to do something.' I know soccer and that's where I thought I could relate with them." He has related, effectively using the world's most popular game as a way to bridge cultural gaps by heading an effort to have playing fields made, conducting coaching courses for the Afghanistan youth and setting up adult games between locals and coalition forces.

UCLA goalkeeper Brad Friedel and North Carolina forward Mia Hamm were named winners of the 1992 Hermann Trophy yesterday, as Reebok International Ltd., sponsor of the awards, deemed them the most outstanding soccer players in the country.The announcement was made at the Stouffer Harborplace Hotel, not far from the 46th annual convention of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America at the Baltimore Convention Center.Friedel won out over Olympic teammate Claudio Reyna, a sophomore who has led Virginia to the past two NCAA titles, and Davidson forward Rob Ukrop.

For Centennial's Matt Laycock, a phone call Feb. 2 brought a sense of deja vu.The fifth-ranked Eagles basketball team's leading scorer (19.2) and rebounder (8.5) was called unexpectedly to the U.S. National under-18 soccer tryout camp in San Diego.He will be there through Sunday. Only 26 players are invited, and 18 will be selected to play in Italy in March.Laycock, who has accepted a soccer scholarship to North Carolina and is a National Soccer Coaches of America All-American, also missed six games his sophomore season because of soccer committments.

The C. Milton Wright boys soccer team will be awarded a second consecutive National Team Academic Award by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. To qualify, teams must have an average minimum grade point average of of 3.25. C. Milton Wright held a 3.4 average GPA.

Baltimore Jan. 12-16 National Soccer Coaches Association of America convention and exhibition, Hyatt Regency, 300 Light St. Contact: Bob Robinson, 610-688-1537. Estimated attendance: 2,500 Jan. 26-30 United States Pony Clubs annual meeting, Renaissance Harborplace, Pratt and Commerce streets. Contact: Peggy Entrekin, 606-254-7669. Estimated attendance: 300 Information The Sun lists selected conventions of general interest or with exhibits open to the public from those provided by the Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association.

Moves Baseball ASTROS: Agreed to one-year, $1.25 million contract with SS Jose Vizcaino. MARLINS: Named Harry Dunlop bench coach, Luis Dorante bullpen coach and Brian Chattin director of player development. REDS: Named Dan Huston scout. ROCKIES: Named Mike Gallego third base and infield coach and Jeff Bridich manager of minor league operations. YANKEES: Agreed to one-year contract with free-agent C John Flaherty. Traded OF Kenny Lofton and cash to Phillies for P Felix Rodriguez. Traded P Felix Heredia to Mets for P Mike Stanton and cash.