HERMITAGE — Slippery Rock High goalkeeper Jordan Marks sprawled out, reached her gloved hands toward the ball and batted it away.

Marks then sprang to her feet, sprinted toward the ball and smothered it as General McLane players closed in.

That frantic save in the final minute of Slippery Rock High's matchup in the first round of the District 10 Class AA girls soccer playoffs at Hickory High Monday secured a 2-1 win.

"I said at the beginning of the season, 'We have this new goalie you are going to be hearing about,'" said Slippery Rock coach Les Smith. "You saw for yourself. That was a big save. I can't say anything else but wow.' Just wow."

Slippery Rock (17-1-2) played an uneven match, squandering scoring opportunities and allowing the Lancers to dominate the play during stretches of both halves.

Still, Morgan Siebka scored two goals for the Rockets. Her first came less than seven minutes into the match. Her second goal, off an assist from Harley Boyd, came with 23:06 remaining in the match.

General McLane put pressure on Marks and the Slippery Rock defense.

But Marks didn't blink, particularly in the final frantic minute.

"I was thinking, 'I have to make that first save and jump right back up,'" the junior said. "You can't think about it too much. It's all reaction."

The Lancers' only goal against Marks came with 1:12 remaining in the first half. Freshman Tara Henry, standing in the middle of a congested goal mouth, punched the ball into the net off a corner kick.

Marks spent the last two years playing midfield and defense while she waited for her opportunity to become the Rockets' goalkeeper.

She played the position on her club team and was eager to show what she could do for Slippery Rock.

"I was ready for it," Marks said. "It was finally my chance."

Marks hasn't disappointed.

Of the opponents' 115 shots on goal, including 10 on Monday by the Lancers, Marks has stopped 105 of them.

Of the 10 goals she has surrendered, three of them were on nearly impossible-to-stop penalty kicks.

Marks also has 11 shutouts.

"She's the best goalie in the world," said Slippery Rock junior midfielder Ali Lotz. "She's awesome."

Marks thinks the defense in front of her is pretty awesome, too.

"My defense does a lot for me," Marks said.

That defense had limited teams to an average of 5.5 shots on goal per match heading into the playoffs.

But when the defense does give up shots, Marks has been there to stop them.

"She's confident and maturing," Smith said. "She may be at her peak at this point."

Slippery Rock will face Villa Maria, which upset Titusville 2-0, at 5 p.m. Wednesday at General McLane High School in Edinboro.