GREENVILLE — Unfortunately for Slippery Rock's girls soccer team, the third time was not the charm.

Facing Hickory for the third time this season, the Rockets were looking to avenge a pair of 4-0 losses to the Hornets.

Instead, Hickory placed consistent fire on Slippery Rock goalkeeper Julia Hart, earning three first-half goals in a 5-0 win in a District 10 Class AA quarterfinal Tuesday night at Greenville High School.

“Our defense couldn't have done anything differently,” said Slippery Rock coach Melanie Cole. “I mean, they made a few mistakes, but they made all the tackles they needed to make, some of the strongest tackles I've seen. I told our girls not to hang their heads.”

Hart and the Rocket defense were up to the task early, keeping the Hornets off the scoreboard for the first 23 minutes. Near the end of that stretch, Hickory's Natalie Bell blasted a shot from 10 yards that Hart saved. The goalkeeper then scrambled to retrieve the ball before another Hornet arrived and the game remained scoreless.

But Hickory (17-1-1), the defending district champion, was soon knocking on the door again and this time, they were rewarded. Defender Logan Davis scored on a shot from 25 yards in the 24th minute.

“I credit our defense,” said Hickory coach B.J. Rudge. “You go out and the game remains scoreless for the first 20 minutes, our back four kept things calm and didn't allow Slippery Rock any real chances. You do that and you can seize the game, start getting more opportunities up top.”

Bell and Emily Maurer both scored before the end of the first half.

Slippery Rock (12-9) threatened to cut into the lead in the 53rd minute. A pass from the right of Hickory's net crossed the goal face and found the foot of midfielder Emily Raine. Hickory keeper Molly Piso was late getting to that side of the net, but Raine arrived just a split second too late herself and her shot bounced just wide of the net and out of bounds.

It was Slippery Rock's best scoring chance of the night.

“We can put the ball in the net,” Cole said. “It's just that Hickory has such a strong back four, you're not going to go 1-on-1 with them. You're going to take a longball down the side and go after it.”

Piso made two saves in the game, but the story was Hickory's push on offense, which received scores from Cataloni and Bell later in the second half. Hart was forced to make 12 saves in the game.

“We are a young team,” said Cole. “We have only two seniors and start four freshmen. We're only going to grow.”