Sept. 25, 2000

When Stony Brook freshman Dan Ferrin prepares for a soccer game, a lot more goes into his routine besides putting on his uniform and his shinguards. Whatever Ferrin does seems to be working as the Seawolves remain undefeated with a perfect 6-0 record.

Ferrin, a native of Grosse Pointe, Mich., is a devoted fan of the Detroit Red Wings and Vladimir Konstantinov, who suffered a severe head injury after the Red Wings won the Stanley Cup in 1996. Before every game, he uses a rock engraved with the word "Believe" from Konstantinov's fund-raising foundation as a motivational tool. Ferrin also uses a picture of one of his old coaches who died in a car accident to get him ready for gametime.

Ferrin then uses imaging exercises he learned in a sports psychology class to help him picture himself in the game at hand.

That's where the superstitions come in. Thirty minutes before he leaves, Ferrin puts on one sock. Fifteen minutes later, he puts on the other. Immediately upon arriving at the field, he adds his shinguards.

Whatever the reason for Ferrin's and Stony Brook's success so far this season, the Seawolves just plan on doing more of the same to continue their best start in 20 years, when the 1980 team went 7-0-1 in its first eight games.

"We haven't even begun to realize our potential yet," Ferrin said. "It will be scary when we do."

For a team not realizing its potential, the Seawolves have had a pretty good start in 2000. Ferrin posted five shutouts in his first five collegiate games, tying him with four other keepers for best goals against average in the nation and earning him Atlantic Soccer Conference Goalkeeper of the Week last week. The shutout streak finally ended over the weekend in Stony Brook's come-from-behind 3-2 win over Towson. However, Ferrin's numbers are still stellar, as he has a 0.35 GAA, registering 16 saves on 54 shots in 520:28 minutes.

"The defense does everything for me," Ferrin said. "They should be getting all the credit."

One reason for Stony Brook's success so far this year is Ferrin's experience with the Seawolves' flat back four defense. Although the defensive strategy is new to the backs in the lineup, Ferrin played in it for two years with his club team in Michigan.

"I'm familiar with the system, so I know where people should be," he said. "I recognize where the holes are and when people are too far up."

The Stony Brook's stingy defense and Ferrin's abilities between the pipes have provided a welcome change from last season. The 1999 Seawolves gave up 15 goals in their first five games and tallied only four victories on the year. A team that includes natives of everywhere from Jamaica to Venezuela to Sweden, Stony Brook has relied largely on its 16 newcomers, and all of them, Ferrin included, have stepped up to the challenge.

"Everybody is coming together," Ferrin said, "even though there is a lot of diversity. Our team is a smorgasbord."

In Michigan, Ferrin set the state record in shutouts with 50, notching 14 his senior year, and led his high school team to two state titles. His club team won six consecutive state championships and advanced to the national finals. Since then, Ferrin has had a lot to adjust to but has made the transition look easy. In Michigan, he attended a small private school that had only 250 students. Now, he goes to a lecture where he is one of 600.

"I wasn't worried about it," Ferrin said. "I figured I would just cross that bridge when I came to it."

So far, Ferrin is crossing that bridge safe and sound. The Seawolves started off the year shutting out every opponent en route to a 5-0 record. Then, against Towson, USB gave up two early goals and faced its first deficit of the year. But Stony Brook showed it has a solid offense as well, scoring three goals and shutting down the Tigers the remainder of the game to earn the 3-2 victory.

Shutout or not, Ferrin has shown that he is more than capable of helping the Seawolves keep their undefeated streak alive. He'll be ready to face every opponent, putting on one sock at a time.