With a fresh start in the Capital Athletic Conference, perhaps it’s only fitting that the women’s soccer team is filled with fresh faces.

With a recruiting class of eight, and only two seniors and one junior, second-year head coach Jen Wood will have no choice but to rely on underclassmen. “We are a very young team, so their impact on the squad is going to be crucial in our success,” said Wood.

Of the eight freshmen, Wood likely will start five of them. “We emphasize that even though we are young we have to be tough and not give up,” Wood said.

Dealing with youth is familiar to Wood, whose 2006 squad also had eight freshmen and only two seniors. Despite inexperience though, the Blazers were successful, and posted a record of 10-5-3 overall and 5-1 in AWCC. The team also made it to the Atlantic Women’s Colleges Conference championship game, but fell to the College of Notre Dame (Md.) after two overtimes and a shoot out.

Although successful in last year’s campaign, the 2007 season may prove to be more daunting, as the team enters the CAC.

“Every team in the CAC is going to be tough, but our out-of- season contests are just as hard,” Wood said.

“It’s going to be tough, but I really think we are going to surprise some teams this year.”

Tough opponents for the squad include the York College Spartans, who are ranked in the D3Kicks.com Top 25. Against such teams, Hood’s defense will be key. “Our defense is our strongest area,” Wood said.

The team will have four returners in the back, as well as freshman Abby Dyjack, from Odenton, Md. Returners include, Brittany Hurt, Lauren Hines, Liz Rakowski and Colleen Cruice.

In 2006, Hurt, a sophomore, and Rakowski, a junior, were both named to All-AWCC second team, while Hines and Cruice received honorable mention.

“Abby Dyjack is going to be a big asset as an outside back. She is used to playing midfield, but has done very well with the adjustment,” Wood said.

The midfield is also flooded with talent. “The two captains [seniors, Courtney DeSisto and Kristina Rendon] will be controlling it along with Cara Jordan, who is a freshman but one of the hardest working players I have ever seen,” Wood said.

Last season Courtney DeSisto, a two-time All-AWCC honorable mention player, was second on the team in points (10) and shots (51). Rendon, who played in all 18 games in 2006, recorded 27 shots, with two goals, both game winners, and two assists for six points.

On the offensive side of things, the Blazers will look to sophomore returner Nikki Antalffy, along with two freshmen, Alexa Hubicki and Katherine Rendon. Antalffy, named All-AWCC honorable mention, ranked fourth on the team in points (8) and shots (45).

“I really think we are going to surprise some teams this year,” said Wood.