SLIPPERY ROCK TWP — Kenny McCall caught the normally sturdy backline for the Slippery Rock boys soccer team flat-footed Saturday afternoon.

The Fort LeBoeuf forward tracked down a through ball and was in on net 69 seconds into a first-round District 10 Class AA playoff game.

McCall launched a shot from 10 yards out that Slippery Rock senior goalie Jackson Kerchis needed to make a sprawling stop on to keep the game scoreless.

The ensuing corner kick was also wild, rolling along the goal line before the Rockets cleared the ball and settled in to earn a 2-1 win at home.

Fifth-seeded Slippery Rock will play fourth-seeded General McLane in the quarterfinals Tuesday at a site and time to be determined.

Junior defender Nick Stutz was a little anxious during the early flurry, but felt Slippery Rock (13-6) would settle in.

“A little bit, but I still had faith in the team,” Stutz said. “We had to get the little nerves out, keep playing hard and do our thing.”

The Rockets' thing has been built behind the success of a young defensive core.

Stutz is joined on the backline by two sophomores — Chase Wolinski and Chase Gill — along with freshman Ryan Hinchberger.

Slippery Rock has limited opponents to 21 goals this season.

“They've been solid for us and it helped us today, settling everyone down and continuing to play,” Rockets coach Kyle Hopkins said.

Stutz said the big key for the Rockets was communicating after Kerchis' save.

“We more or less continued to talk and communicate with one another,” Stutz said. “I dropped back a little more so I could take those through balls and be there to man them up or keep dropping back and let the other defenders swoop in on the ball.”

After the opening flurry by the 12th-seeded Bison, the Rockets clamped down on Fort LeBoeuf (6-12-1).

The Bison didn't have another shot on goal until Kobe Musser scored in the 79th minute.

“We couldn't click and complete passes and keep doing things like that,” Fort LeBoeuf coach Jason Falk said. “We couldn't relax. Couldn't settle the nerves down and execute on technical things offensively.”

Slippery Rock, which finished with 22 shots and 10 shots on goal, broke through in the 42nd minute. Chase Baxa rocketed a shot from 20 yards out that hit Bison goalie Jason Marczak in the chest and bounced free.

Ryan Purvis tapped the ball in to put the Rockets ahead. Slippery Rock senior midfielder Matt Dempsey said the Rockets had to be patient on offense.

“We had to keep calm and not panic or anything,” Dempsey said. “Keep playing the game.”

Fort LeBoeuf nearly evened the game in the 60th minute. A header from Musser went off the post before being cleared away.

Dempsey gave the Rockets breathing room four minutes later when he pushed a shot past Marczak.

Other than Musser's goal, Slippery Rock's defense played a solid game following a crazy first two minutes.

“They all played a really great game,” Dempsey said. “They kept their head straight and played well.”