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Borowski scored five times as a freshman to help Watkins Mill to the Class 4A West Region semifinals in 2005, before Clarksburg opened its doors the following fall. But what she wants even more than offensive output is for her team to succeed.

So when she made the switch to Clarksburg with former Wolverines coach Troy Bowers, Borowski volunteered to move back to sweeper. And she still tallied three goals and four assists from that position in 2007.

"I do like to go up, but from the back I can see the whole field and that plays into the captain's role," Borowski said. "I can see everything and help fix problems we're having. I like being back there and helping the team improve."

Her team-first mentality and versatility on the field are why Borowski has been the cornerstone of the Coyotes girls soccer program since it began. The feisty 17-year old speedster was only a sophomore when Clarksburg opened. Most 10th graders aren't team captains, but Borowski knew the team was going to need a good leader, so she matured quickly and assumed responsibility.

She's done a fine job with it, helping bring a bunch of girls who didn't know each other — Clarksburg drew students from three different districts — into a cohesive unit. Bowers' "coach on the field" sacrificed her own stats to move to the Coyotes' backline, and she's anchored one of the stingiest defenses in the county the last two years.

Clarksburg is a respectable 17-14 in its first two seasons as a varsity program. Borowski, who has attracted attention from college coaches from Winthrop (S.C.) University, Dickinson (Pa.) College, Denison (Ohio) and Belmont (Tenn.), has played an integral role in that.

"I need her back there," said Bowers. "I saw that leadership quality in her as a freshman. She's always positive, on the field and off. And when I came to Clarksburg, it was nice to know I had a leader there to help me kick off the program. She's done an admirable job. She's gotten the girls to come together as a unit, and she's an extremely gifted player. "

Borowski, who has played club soccer for the Bethesda Sharks since she was 8 years old, is quite unassuming. Her soft-pitched voice barely carries, her 5-foot-3 frame nothing to fear.

But all that changes once she steps onto the soccer field. Borowski is fierce; what she lacks in size, she makes up in athletic prowess, will and determination. Her internal drive becomes that of the team's.

Borowski is constantly battling against players larger than her. She actually likes knowing her opponents underestimate her; she'll make them pay.

And most of the time, she's winning. Quick-footed with good ball-handling skills, Borowski is also fearless. She's dominant in the air against players who tower over her, too, as she's learned to time her jump just right.

"Probably the best thing about Daria, and it's something you can't teach, is she knows how to win 50-50 balls," Bowers said. "She knows to go to everything. It's in her mind. ‘I'm going to control this play. You're not going to get by me.'"

Borowski's name might not stand out on the stat sheets. But she knows what her role is at Clarksburg. Bowers knows it. And most importantly, the Coyotes know it. That's all that matters.

"Not a lot of players would volunteer to go back and play sweeper," Bowers said. "It's not a very prestigious position. But she's really grown into it. She's the leader of this team; it's her team. She controls the pack."