SLIPPERY ROCK — The sweeper turned into one of the best offensive playmakers. The goalkeeper, who split time in the net last season, morphed into a shutout machine. The best passer became the leading scorer.

It isn't exactly how the Slippery Rock High girls soccer team thought the season would unfold, but the surging Rockets will take it.

"I think this year our team is closer than it has been in past years," said senior keeper Ali Doyle. "We've had some adversity, but we've gotten through all that. We have a lot of seniors and a lot of leadership, so I think that is what helped."

Before the season kicked off, sophomore forward Danielle Wissinger, who was projected to be one of the top goal-scoring threats in District 10, came down with malaria after a mission trip to Africa in late summer.

With Wissinger nowhere near 100 percent until recently, goals were hard to come by, forcing coach Les Smith to do some juggling.

Freshman Morgan Siebka moved from sweeper to forward and responded with 12 goals and six assists for Slippery Rock, which managed to go 14-2-2 and to earn the top seed in the District 10 Class AAA playoffs.

The Rockets will play Mercyhurst at 5:30 p.m. today at Wilmington High.

Senior midfielder Sarah Cessar, who had more than 20 assists last season, had to be more of a scorer to pick up the slack. She leads the team with 21 goals and nine assists.

"I got a lot better at shooting during the summer," said Cessar, who often could be found at the practice field with her younger sister, Anna, practicing how to bend it like Beckham. "It really wasn't that hard of a transition. I knew I was going to have to score (more goals) this season anyway."

Cessar has become one of the most dynamic players in the district this season.

And she's finally getting noticed, Smith said.

"It's a shame girls don't get noticed in this district unless they score a lot of goals," Smith said. "But Sarah is just a great all-around player."

Doyle has plenty of opportunities to watch Cessar do her thing. Sometimes she finds herself watching Cessar with awe.

"One game, she dribbled through six players as if they were cones," Doyle said. "It was the most amazing thing I have ever seen."

While the offense struggled to mesh early in the season, Doyle kept the Rockets rolling. She has 12 shutouts and the Rockets have surrendered only 11 goals in 18 games.

"With Ali back there," Cessar said, "we don't have anything to worry about."

Doyle has little to worry about these days as well.

Because the defense in front of her is so strong, Doyle sometimes is the loneliest player on the field.

"I just sort of stand out there and touch the ball maybe two or three times," Doyle said. "It makes my day whenever that happens. "

Smith picked up soccer at a young age and excelled at it in numerous stops throughout his youth. His father was a diplomat and the family never stayed in one place for more than three years.

Because of that, Smith accomplished the rare feat of winning a high school state soccer championship as a player in two different states: Hawaii and Virginia.

The Rockets are hoping to add a state championship in a third state to Smith's resume.

A playoff run is not outside the realm of possibility. When Doyle and Cessar were freshmen, the Rockets made it to the PIAA quarterfinals.

"A lot of these girls were on that team, so they know what it is like in the playoffs, the intensity, the pressure, how physical it is," Cessar said.