Sept. 1, 2005

This season's Stony Brook women's team has a treat for coach Sue Ryan. The Seawolves have five seniors on the team.

That might not seem like a lot, but when compared to last year's side, that's five more than she had last fall.

And veterans make a difference, especially in college.

"The strength is the leadership of our five seniors," Ryan said.

Add 10 freshmen to the mix and four returning sophomores who played a ton last season as first-year players and you know that Ryan faces a unique challenge on a team that finished 7-8-4 in the conference and 4-4-1 overall last fall.

"Most of our season is how quickly we can meld the freshmen into the pace of Division I soccer," she said earlier this week.

"They've done very well in the pre-season. But everything is catch-up for them. They were big fish in their little pond. Now they're playing with more experienced players."

How quickly those newcomers can make some sort of impact is important to how far the Seawolves can go.

Ryan cited freshman defender-midfielder Brooke Barbuto, who started and played the full 90 minutes of the first two games.

"She's made the most impact right now," she said.

Ryan can only hope this year's incoming class will make the similar progress as last year's four freshmen who are now sophomores - defenders Krista Shilts and Kristin Mishrell, midfielder Tiffany Fasullo and forward Kelly Bahnsen.

"All made a tremendous jump -- mentally with playing ability, the speed of play and fitness," she said. "Each one really stepped up her game."

The No. 1 senior and the big key to the Seawolves' success revolves around All-America East goalkeeper Cindy Bennett, a senior who has picked up where she left off last year. She made two breakaway saves in the 1-1 draw with Florida International last weekend. Bennett attended U.S. Under-21 camp last winter.

"The players in front of her play differently," Ryan said. "They have confidence in her ability. She brings it to every game.

"Good players make the players around them better. That's what she does."

The midfield is the Seawolves' strong suit.

Start with Danielle Lewis, whom Ryan called "one of the fastest players" in the conference.

"She created some havoc because of her speed," she said.

Add Chelsea Van Horn and Kirsandra Seaton.

Ryan "discovered" Seaton by accident more or less, noticing the Patchogue, L.I. resident at a Seawolves Soccer Camp. Seaton never played organized club, learning the game in the streets with her brothers. She has since earned a scholarship.

"Kirsandra is just a pure athlete," Ryan said. "I would have loved to have had her as a 12-year-old."

Ryan also is counting on graduate student and forward Jackie Anthony, who graduated in only three years and who scored the team's first goal of the season in the 2-1 loss at Stetson last weekend.

Ryan has modest goals this season -- reach the America East tournament.

"Last year we came in seventh and we were not in control of our destiny," she said.

"We want to make it in and be in control of our own destiny."

Ryan has liked what she has seen so far in a pair of non-conference games, although the Seawolves are 0-1-1 with Fordham looming at 7 p.m. on Friday.

"The thing I am happy about is that we have improved our performance," she said. "The thing I am disappointed in is that we don't have a win.

"At the end of the day, we have to have the expectations to get the results."