Carrie Wack played as a forward on the Seneca Valley girls soccer team for only one season.

But it took only a single game to convince Anthony James of her abilities.

The Youngstown State University women's soccer coach attended Seneca Valley's section game against Pine-Richland last fall to scout another player.

It wasn't long before the Raiders senior drew his attention, however.

"I noticed she was very athletic and quick," said James. "Her play just blew me away."

James later approached Wack about playing at YSU.

"He called me in November," said Wack. "He said I would be playing a lot of forward (at YSU)."

Her decision eventually was narrowed to Youngstown St. and West Virginia Wesleyan.

"Youngstown St. was a bigger school and (posses) the perks of playing Division I compared to Division III, that's why I decided to go to Youngstown," said Wack.

She made it official by signing a letter of intent last Wednesday.

"Carrie is going to add a dimension to our team," said James. "As we continue to develop as a team, we look for her to be a main threat for us."

Wack, who has played soccer since seventh grade, played sparingly for the varsity squad her freshman season of 2001.

The next year she started on defense, moving to midfield her junior season and finally to forward last year.

Her career totals include 10 goals and 20 assists, including four scores and eight assists in 2004. Wack was named to the All-Section Team the last two years.

"Her speed enabled her to do a lot for us on both ends of the field, whether it was while attacking or on defense," said Seneca Valley coach Dave Sylvester.

Wack will leave a Seneca Valley team that made the playoffs all four years she was on the squad to join a Youngstown State team that will be entering just its ninth year of existence and is coming off a 1-19 mark in 2004.

"Coach James is only in his second year there," she said. "He's really trying to change and improve the program.

"I think he can do the job," Wack added. "And it will be pretty neat to say that I was part of building a program like that."

In fact, the Penguins took a major step toward respectability last season, despite their poor record.

"We are coming off the most competitive season this program has had," said James. "We lost a lot of close games, including 2-1 and 3-2 to Detroit Mercy, the eventual conference champion.

"With the kids that we were able to recruit this year, I wouldn't be surprised at all if we got to .500 next season.

"And Carrie, I believe, if she focuses, she can be twice the player she was in high school," James added.

The Penguins compete in the Horizon Conference, which also includes Cleveland State, Wright State (Ohio), Illinois-Chicago and Wisconsin-Milwaukee, among other schools.