MEADVILLE – Slippery Rock couldn't solve the Cathedral Prep defense.
Facing an impenetrable defensive wall that had surrendered just 10 goals all season, the Rockets became the unlucky 13th team to be shutout by the Ramblers in a 8-0 decision in Monday's District 10 Class 2A semifinal at Meadville High School's Bender Field.
"(Cathedral Prep has) no weaknesses whatsoever," second-year coach Matthew Purtell said. "Our girls played a pretty solid game, but we were just overmatched. It's tough, because you're trying to defend and keep from getting too far behind.
"At the same time, you need to generate some sort of offense, so you can keep them a little in the midfield and not just living in your end. That's easier said than done against a really good team like Cathedral Prep."
While the Ramblers continue on the road to a D10 title, Slippery Rock's only choice is to look back on a highly successful season that came to a close with a 14-4-2 record and a Region 2 championship.
"I was pretty pleased with our improvement," Purtell said. "We were 8-10 overall last year and didn't make it past the first round of the playoffs, so for them to go from an eight-win season to 14 wins and all tho...