There is no “I” in team, so don’t expect one athlete to carry their school to a national championship in collegiate soccer.

Rather, expect a team with depth, experience and a dominant defense too.

Four games into the 2010 women’s soccer season and Central Michigan has had 14 of its 18 players see playing time in games. three others have played in three of the four and senior goalkeeper Shay Mannino and sophomore Stefanie Turner have split time in each game.

Coming off a Mid-American Conference championship, head coach Tom Anagnost looks to kill two birds with one stone in 2010. while being favored to repeat, Anagnost appears to be focused on the now and later. the Chippewas are rotating multiple players in every game.

In the near future, the rotation of his players will be beneficial to repeating as MAC champions. Injuries happen in sports and, as a result, quality minutes will give CMU the option to feel confident with any player substituted into a match.

The goalie rotation between Mannino and Turner may seem fuzzy to the occasional reader due to the fact that Mannino won the 2009 MAC Defensive Player of the Year award, but don’t underestimate the talent of Turner.

The 6-foot sophomore from Livonia has a strong upside. She’s been almost perfect, allowing one goal, which was preventable. after Mannino graduates this season, the experience gained as a sophomore will prepare Turner for the starting job in 2011.

As the saying goes, offense puts on a show, but defense wins championships. CMU has struggled offensively so far but has performed admirably on the defensive side of the field. the team has only allowed 26 shots and one goal, compared to its four goals on an astounding 81 shots. It took IPFW three quarters of the match to record a shot.

This defense has the potential to do great things this season and, with the rotation system continuing the cycle of experience will occur.

The dominant defense will translate into an aggressive offense. if CMU can get their shots into the net, they can be a strong force not only in the MAC, but in the NCAA tournament.

E-mail the author: John Manzo

COLUMN: Soccer team has potential to go further than last season