When Brigham Young women's soccer coach Jennifer Rockwood recalls her most successful recruiting classes, the freshmen she brought to her program for this season might be the best yet.

It's still too early to make any definitive judgements. If the first third of the season is any indication, the Cougars will have a solid core group for years to come.

Four freshmen, including prolific goal scorer Carlee Payne, have worked their way into a BYU starting lineup that picked up where it left off in 2008 when it finished 18-5-1 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA College Cup.

The No. 17-ranked Cougars, with victories against two top-20 teams, have won five consecutive games and are once again favored to win the Mountain West Conference. The conference season for BYU begins Saturday at home against visiting Utah.

Thursday, No. 14 Oregon travels South Field on the BYU campus.

"We're all really close," said Payne, who has already scored nine goals with four assists. "We're proud of each other. In the end, we're all teammates."

Payne, Lindsi Lisonbee and Jessica Ringwood were playing high school and club soccer last season. The fourth, Stacy Bartholomew, was recruited in 2007. She has finally shaken off the injuries that had stalled her college career.

"It's been a really cool experience," Ringwood said. "I just always wanted to play here."

Having freshmen in her starting lineup doesn't concern Rockwood.

"We've just found a good starting lineup the last three games," she said after a victory against Southern Utah. "They come in and do a tremendous job."

Payne doesn't play like a freshman. She certainly has alleviated any worries Rockwood had about someone picking up the scoring slack created by All-American forward Katie Larkin's graduation.

Payne, a four-time all-league performer from Pleasonton, Calif., resembles Larkin, down to her energy and running style.

That's where the resemblance ends.

"I didn't feel any pressure," she said about replacing the prolific Cougar goal scorer. "I'm trying to be myself. I'm not trying to be [Larkin]."

So far, she's succeeding.

Bartholomew was recruited out of Timpanogos (Orem) High, where she was All-State with 28 goals. She tore her ACL in an exhibition game prior to the 2007 season and, now part of BYU's solid back defensive line, is just now healthy enough to claim a starting position.

Lisonbee, also a defender, was a Parade All-American in 2008 while at Park City High. Ringwood, another all-state selection out of Brighton High, has three assists and provides a threat opposite Payne.

"It's super exciting to be able to come in here and get the opportunity to play every day," Ringwood said. "I didn't expect it at all. I knew I'd have to work hard and what happens happens."

The Cougars, undefeated last season in league play, are drawing in excess of 3,000 spectators to refurbished South Field.

"I have a lot of confidence in our freshmen," Rockwood said. "They are our future."

The present looks pretty good, too.

martyr@sltrib.com