On paper, it looked like a very bad loss for the Slippery Rock High School girls soccer team.

Mars 4, Rockets 0.

But looks can be deceiving.

It was actually a very good defeat.

Slippery Rock hasn't lost since the Sept. 17 setback against the Planets at the Pine-Richland Tournament and has used the experience in the rough-and-tumble world of the WPIAL to steamroll through its District 10 region.

"We only lost to Mars 4-0 and they are just an awesome team," said junior captain Kelsey Drennan. "That was the best we have played all season."

After the contest, Slippery Rock coach Blair Gantz told his players that if they play like they did against Mars in region play, they wouldn't lose.

She has been very prophetic.

"She said if we play like that, we'd crush everyone in our league," Drennan said.

While the Rockets haven't necessarily crushed everyone in the region, they are a perfect 9-0 and 13-4 overall.

The Rockets never have finished undefeated in their league.

That's something that could change this season.

"We all want to go undefeated in the conference," Drennan said. "We have never done that before and we want to do that very, very badly."

Drennan has been a large part of the Rockets' success this season, teaming with junior Jence Rhoads to form a fearsome 1-2 punch for a team that lost their leading scorer from a year ago, Beth Reefer, to graduation.

Drennan is one of many Slippery Rock players who have started or seen considerable playing time since their freshman seasons.

Drennan begin as a defensive player but has moved into a more offensive role.

"She may not be our MVP, but she'd get the coach's award," Gantz said. "She's very, very physical and tough."

The team MVP unquestionably is Rhoads, who has scored 27 goals this season and has been nearly unstoppable during the seven-game winning streak.

"She just plays soccer for fun," Gantz said. "It's something she can do under no pressure."

Rhoads contemplated sitting out the season because of her future on the basketball court, but changed her mind and decided to play soccer at the last minute.

"She's the top basketball player in Pennsylvania," Gantz said. "And she's one of the top 50 in the country. I would not be surprised if she didn't play (soccer) next year. But I'm OK with it. I'd tell her to go for it."

But Gantz isn't worried about next year. She has this year and a two big contests next week to occupy her thoughts.

Slippery Rock hosts Grove City Monday afternoon and plays Hickory at 8 p.m. Thursday at Slippery Rock University.

The Rockets got a boost this week when junior goalkeeper Jen Badgett returned from a knee injury, giving Slippery Rock even more depth.

The two contests against Grove City, which has beaten Slippery Rock at least once every season, and Hickory will determine whether the Rockets finish the season unblemished in the region.

"Everyone in Slippery Rock wants to talk about our team, but I don't," Gantz said, laughing. "I don't want to jinx us.

"Those are two tough games, but they will get us ready for the playoffs."

Gantz didn't think she would be talking about an undefeated region record before the season started.

The team had lost a solid core of seniors and had a young team coming back.

Slippery Rock has only two seniors on the roster this season. The team is driven by its juniors.

"I thought we would be good," Gantz said. "I didn't think we'd be as good as we are. We played those WPIAL teams and we fared pretty well. It will only help us in the playoffs."

The postseason has been a stumbling block for the Rockets in their history.

Slippery Rock has won its league before, but have been chopped down by teams from the northern part of the district, namely Harbor Creek, Villa Maria and Fairview, early in the district playoffs.

Drennan, though, thinks this may be the year the Rockets climb over the playoff hurdle.

"We really do," Drennan said. "We played Harbor Creek last year and beat them, then they beat us in the playoffs. This year, we lost to them, and hopefully we can turn it around on them"