JACKSON TWP — Time was starting to move a little too fast for the Slippery Rock girls soccer team Saturday.

But after a pair of goals in a 76-second span, it couldn't go fast enough.

Trailing 1-0 in the second half of its PIAA Class AA quarterfinal game against Seton-LaSalle, Sarah Cessar and Kelsey Drennen scored, the latter with 25:04 remaining to help send the Rockets to a 2-1 victory over the Rebels at Seneca Valley High School.

The win moves Slippery Rock (21-2) to the state semifinals — a.k.a the western finals — against Greensburg Central Catholic at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Chartiers Valley High School.

"We were back on our heels in the first half," said Slippery Rock coach Blair Gantz. "We played a little frantic in the first half. In the second half, we stepped up.

"I kept saying we have nine seniors who are not ready to go home. This was all heart. We've been a second-half team all year," Gantz added.

Seton-LaSalle (17-5) wasted little time getting on the board, using an Erin McCreary goal off an assist by Danielle Joseph just 1:20 into the game.

Little did anyone realize that would be it for the Rebels in the scoring column.

The Rockets almost knotted the game 2:30 later when a header in front of the net was snared by Rebels goalie Christina Blasi.

With 3:30 left in the half, Brittany Freiters' shot hooked just wide to the left of the goal to keep the Rockets scoreless.

Early in the second half, Slippery Rock's netminder, freshman Ali Doyle, made two huge saves in a two-minute span to keep the Rockets close.

Then, with 26:20 remaining, Cessar took a Drennen dish in front of the net and fired a shot past Blasi to even the game at one.

Before the excitement could die down, it was Drennen who took a pass from Cessar, almost in the same spot, to give the Rockets a 2-1 advantage.

"It takes a lot for a team to come back," said Gantz. "Once we got that first goal, then the second, you could see the confidence."

From then on, it was a matter of keeping the Rebels from tying the game, but they didn't go down without a fight.

With just over three minutes remaining, Seton-LaSalle had three consecutive corner kicks. The first two were cleared out of play, but on the third, a stop by Doyle amid a crowded net preserved the lead.

"My only concern about that was with (Doyle)," said Gantz with a smile. "She's not the tallest goalie and she came a little bit out. I told her that Jence (Rhoads) was out there. She's tall enough."

On Tuesday, the Rockets earned their first state playoff victory in school history in a 1-0 victory over WPIAL champion South Park. Now, the team finds itself one of the final four in the state with a chance tomorrow to advance to the state championship.

"Every game in the state playoffs is a new experience," said Gantz. "We're happy to be here.

"We know we're a quality team and the WPIAL has good teams and the type of soccer they play.

"It's our first time to the western finals. My hope is that we stick to the game plan. My college coach (SRU's Noreen Herlihy) said to never switch up your system of play. Don't change it to any other team," she said.

Notes: Greensburg Central Catholic (21-2-1) routed Fairview 6-1 at Karns City High School on Saturday to advance to the state semifinals ... Doyle and Blasi each registered nine saves.