CRANBERRY TWP - It doesn't matter if you're a collegiate all-star or a former world soccer star. On this team, you're just another player.

Steel City Sparks coach Brenda van Stralen wouldn't have it any other way.

"We have players from Notre Dame, Florida State, everywhere," said van Stralen, a former member of the Dutch national team and the current coach at St. Francis (Pa.) College. "You have to put the team first. You can be an All-American in college, but maybe you're not a star of this team.

"Instead of an All-American, we may need a player to fill in a particular spot," van Stralen added.

The Sparks, a member of the 22-team Women's Premier Soccer League, are in their second season in the league.

They went 8-2 a year ago and this season, under first-year coach van Stralen, the Sparks are 5-1-2 following a 2-2 tie Saturday with the Philadelphia Pirates.

Several team members have local ties, including leading goal and point scorer Annie Lowry (Butler), defender Julie Muckle (Seneca Valley), Slippery Rock University graduate Sarah Arsenault, Stacey Brubaker (Grove City College) and Slippery Rock High School girls coach Blair Gantz.

Assistant coach Sergio Gonzalez is also an assistant coach for the SRU women's team under Noreen Herlihy. Gonzalez also earned his master's degree at SRU.

Lowry, who will be a sophomore at James Madison University this fall, has four goals and one assist for nine points to lead the squad.

"It doesn't matter what school you're from," said Lowry. "The whole team works as a group. That's why we've been so successful."

Lowry had goals in four of the first five games to help the team get off to its fast start.

Lowry saw time last season with the Sparks, less than one month removed from graduating from Butler High School. She made an instant impact as she tallied three goals in her first game.

"Annie's our starting forward. She's an unbelievable player," said van Stralen. "She needs to believe in herself and play 90 minutes because we need her for 90 minutes.

"She's a tremendous asset to the team and a great player. It's the kids around her that make it better for her. That's important too," van Stralen added.

Having played in this league, Lowry has been able to see herself matched up against some of soccer's best players at every level.

"There's not a professional league, but this is the next step down," said Lowry. "It lets us play at the highest level. It's good for your confidence. You have to give 100 percent each," Lowry added.

And with this league, Lowry knows it can only help her at James Madison, where she will join several of her Butler High alumni in two weeks as counselors at a youth soccer camp at James Madison in Harrisonburg, Va.

"This is definitely a higher level of play," said Lowry. "Going into it, you say 'It's soccer. It can't be that much different.'

"But it's a higher level of speed and toughness," she added.

Muckle, who will be a sophomore at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte, has already played two positions in an effort to help the team.

"She's a pure defender, but I needed her outside," said van Stralen. "I taught her how we wanted her to play. Then I knew I needed her as a defender."

"I thought it was for the short term, but I adapted to it," said Muckle. "To be the best player you can, you have to be versatile."

Muckle starred at Seneca Valley as a defender, but took to midfield quickly before needing to go back on defense.

Like Lowry, she's hoping the league will help her in college.

"This definitely helps keep your skills up over the summer," said Muckle of Cranberry Township.

"Some players are taking the summer off. Here, you're playing against ex-pro players and college players. It's a different environment."

Arsenault, SRU's all-time leading goal (70) and points (161) scorer, has two goals and four points for the Sparks, which is second best on the team.

Arsenault also is The Rock's single season holder in goals and points (23, 54). She finished 40 goals and 58 points ahead of The Rock's No. 2 leader in both, Sonia Maher.

Still, on the Sparks, she is just another member, albeit an integral one, just like everyone else.

"We're doing ver good," said van Stralen. "The other weekend, we lost to Massachusetts (Bay State Select), but we played below our potential.

"We bounced back against Maryland (Pride, 2-1). The team knows we have to be prepared. That's what we're working hard with all these practices," she added.

The Sparks will soon host the New England Mutiny, also at Pine-Richland (the team plays some home games at Ambridge and Avonworth High School as well).

New England went undefeated last season before losing in the championship game in the final 30 seconds.

This will be the first match-up between the teams this season.

"We want to give New England a good game. They're the team to beat," said van Stralen. "They're great players and we're looking for a good game. We're still trying to put the pieces together."