Carnegie Mellon men's soccer coach Nick Gaudio doesn't put an age on talent.

"I don't care how old you are," said Gaudio, whose 277-104-35 record in 25 years at Carnegie Mellon includes appearances in the NCAA Division III tournament the past six seasons and seven times overall. "If you're ready to play, you'll play."

	Last week revisited Individual and team highlights in district college last week: IUP's Chris Morgan, a senior tailback from Woodland Hills High School who set a school record with 286 yards rushing and three touchdowns on 18 carries in a 35-20 victory against East Stroudsburg, is the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West offensive player of the week. He leads the PSAC in rushing this season with 426 yards and moved up to third on the school's all-time list with 2,925, behind Michael Mann's 4,805 and Aamir Dew's 3,623. Washington & Jefferson quarterback Bobby Swallow, who completed 18 of 20 passes for 210 yards and four touchdowns in a 35-0 victory against Hanover, is the Presidents' Athletic Conference offensive player of the week. Bethany rallied from a 21-0 halftime deficit to defeat Ohio Wesleyan, 34-28, for the largest comeback in school history. Wideout T.J. Parker had 12 catches for 156 yards and a touchdown. Allegheny's Andy Toner, a junior from Bethel Park who tied a school record with three interceptions in a 52-7 victory against Hiram, is the North Coast Athletic Conference defensive player of the week. Allegheny's Ryan Place, who finished first in a field of 141 at an NCAA pre-regional meet at Waynesburg, is NCAC cross country performer of the week.

Youth is being served in heavy doses this season with five freshmen in the lineup for the Tartans, who are 5-1 and ranked 13th nationally, up eight notches from last week, in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America poll.

"I've never had that many before, maybe three, at the most four," Gaudio said of the Tartans, who lost to Penn State-Altoona, 2-1, Tuesday. "We knew we had a quality class coming in. The holes were there, and they've filled them real well. They were penciled in [the lineup] before the season. They bring a lot of new energy to the team. They're intense, and you can see in their eyes they want to play. They've blended right in with the upperclassmen."

In addition to their youthful exuberance, the freshmen are technically sound players.

"They know what they're doing," Gaudio said. "They're not just running around out there. They look like they belong, but we haven't played the big boys yet. We're just trying to prepare the kids for the league. We're in the strongest league in the country."

The Tartans finished second in the University Athletic Association last season to end a string of five consecutive championships. The University of Rochester is ranked 24th, and the University of Chicago, Emory and Washington University (Mo.) are flirting with the rankings.

"When you've been to the playoffs the last six years, you want to keep it going," Gaudio said. "I'm not the kind of coach to be patient and baby the young kids."

But there are times when Gaudio is careful how he talks to the freshmen.

"You have to bring them along because they're a little fragile. If a kid has started three straight games and then I sit him, I have to explain to him what I'm doing. They're still kids.

"You don't want them to get down. You can say what you want to the upperclassmen. The older guys, they know. No one really gets massaged here at Carnegie Mellon, academically or athletically. CMU is a tough place. These are tough kids. As freshmen, they're still pretty reserved. Once they realize what I'm like and who I am, they can say anything to me and they'll hear anything from me."

The most prolific freshman scorer is Ryan Browne, a midfielder from Thomas Jefferson High School who has scored three goals, one behind team leader senior Will Schlough. Browne's older brother, Jonathan, is a senior forward who has a tender ankle that has limited his minutes.

"We're picking our spots with him," Gaudio said. "I want him to be ready for the league."

Gaudio brought Jonathan off the bench midway through the second half of a scoreless game against Westminster.

"We were panicking," Gaudio said. "He had a goal and an assist in three minutes. Then, I took him out."

Carnegie Mellon went on to win, 2-0.

"Both Ryan and Jonathan are big-time scorers from high school. Jonathan has scored 45 goals at Carnegie Mellon. Jonathan is built pretty thick and is a physical player. All he wants to do is score. Ryan is a slender, taller kid, who plays with more finesse. They play like they look."

Defensively, the Tartans feature sophomore goaltender Matthew Bazin and junior Christopher Watts, a three-year starter from Shaler. Bazin has four shutouts this season and 14 for his career, which is the sixth-best total in the Tartans' history.

"Our defenders are very proud and work really hard to keep the ball out of the net," Gaudio said." He's a very good keeper. He makes one or two big saves a game."