PITTSBURGH — Tara Catone and Angela Baker talked about trying out for the Pittsburgh Passion women’s football team when they had a couple of classes together at Slippery Rock University.

For Catone, who competed on The Rock’s track team, it signified learning a different mindset.

Instead of running alongside her competitors while confined to their lanes, she’d have to learn how to run away from them.

“I would say it’s been a learning experienced and eye-opening for sure,” Catone said. “There are so many more things that go into football other than from a spectator’s sport. Learning it was a totally different ballgame.”

Catone was a quick study — she’s third in the Independent Women’s Football League with 928 yards rushing — and is one of several women on the team with Butler County ties.

Quarterback Lisa Horton, co-head coach Teresa Conn and Baker, who plays wide receiver, are all SRU graduates.

Assistant coach Shelley Victor went to Freeport High School.

The Passion are 9-0 and will meet the Carolina Phoenix in the Eastern Conference Championship at 7 p.m. Saturday at Mansion Park in Altoona.

Pittsburgh is looking for its second straight championship and third in team history.

The Passion beat Phoenix 41-6 earlier this season at Cupples Stadium.

Should the Passion win, they will meet the winner of the Utah Falconz and Madison Blaze for the IWFL Championship in Rock Hill, S.C.

“We never take anything for granted,” Conn said. “Any time you make it to a championship, it’s through hard work, dedication and loyalty. Once you get in the habit of winning it, that creates hunger and drive to see how far you can do.”

Pittsburgh has shown a lot of that hunger with its offensive attack.

Horton leads the league with 1,096 passing yards and has thrown 24 touchdowns to three interceptions.

Baker is third in the league with 25 receptions, which she turned into 272 yards.

Catone has also added 10 touchdowns on the ground for the Passion, who have outscored their opponents 396-82 this season.

Pittsburgh has a 20-game winning streak since rejoining the IWFL after a two-year stint with the Women’s Football Alliance.

Joining as a rookie didn’t intimidate Catone, who just wanted to play football.

“I wouldn’t say I felt pressure,” Catone said. “Me and the other rookies want to do our best each time, we’re playing with all these veterans. You look up to them and want to perform and play as well as you can.”

Victor is in her third year with the team. She started as a player, before moving to the coaching staff after suffering a knee injury.

“Shelley has played defensive line for us,” Conn said. “She’s very strong, coachable and a great teammate.”