The formula has worked nearly to perfection: The Rams have set a program single-season record with 12 wins and were in a three-team race for the Little East Conference title at midweek.

“What has impressed me the most is they play with a lot of heart,’’ said Daly, who has five area players on her squad, including former Nipmuc Regional star Kristen Sacco of Mendon, the program’s all-time leader in goals and points.

“Kristen is aggressive and hungry in the circle, and her speed and stickwork also make her a scoring threat,’’ said Daly, a former assistant at Clark University after a four-year varsity career at the University of Rhode Island.

A former Division 1 Player of the Year at Notre Dame in Worcester, Daly is assisted by her father, Tim, who is the Rams’ goalkeeping coach, and her brother, Kyle, a volunteer coach who played ice hockey at St. John’s in Shrewsbury.

Her father and mother, Ginger, were co-field hockey coaches at Becker Junior College (now Becker College) in Worcester, where they guided the team to four national junior college championships in the 1990s.

In addition to Sacco (17 goals, one assist), the team roster includes starting midfielder Kristin Gentili, a former team MVP at Franklin High; junior forward Andrea DiTerlizzi (Shrewsbury High); senior backup keeper Steph Bourgeois (Waltham High); and freshman reserve keeper Jacquelyn Dupuis (Watertown High).

Said Daly of those players: “Kristin is a deceptive player who picks up speed after she gets the ball, has very good stickwork, and also plays well defensively; Andrea is versatile and strong on the ball; Steph has strength and communicates well in goal and is a great teammate; and Jacquelyn gives us good depth.’’

The team improved to 12-2 overall (8-1 in conference play) with a 1-0 win over Bridgewater State Wednesday, with DiTerlizzi netting the lone goal. Going into yesterday’s game against UMass-Dartmouth, FSC was tied for the league lead with that team and Fitchburg State.

Burnstein, who placed 13th among 551 competitors with a season-best time of 24:48 on the 8k course, had also recorded team-leading finishes at the WU Early Bird Meet on Sept. 4, and the Greater Louisville Classic on Oct. 3. Burnstein transferred to Washington University after spending a year at Trinity College in Connecticut.

At Brookline High, he was a cross-country and track team captain and helped BHS win the state cross-country championship in 2007.

“Michael has been a great addition and the type of competitor who makes a team better,’’ said head cross-country and track and field coach Jeff Stiles. “He’s a tremendous front-runner who gives you a strong performance every time.’’

Burnstein’s teammates include sophomore Ben Cutting of Sudbury, who turned in a season-best 8k time of 27:53.29 at the Brooks Invitational. Cutting was a captain of cross-country and track and field at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High, where he won multiple Dual County League Championships and was a four-time league All-Star.

Contact Marvin Pave at 508-820-4223 or marvin.pave@rcn.com.