Mars goalkeeper Meghan Kelly punches the ball away in front of Knoch's Jamie Mahan during the Planets' 8-0 victory Oct. 18. With a stingy defense in front of her, Kelly isn't forced to make many plays like this.

WEXFORD - The 80 minutes Meghan Kelly spends on the soccer pitch can be lonely ones.

Often left with nothing but her thoughts, the Mars girls soccer goalkeeper ponders all sorts of subjects.

“It's kind of hard sometimes to keep myself focused,” Kelly said. “I just try to watch the offense and think where the next pass will go, what are they going to do next.

“Otherwise,” Kelly continues, flashing a smile, “I would fall asleep.”

Kelly is one of the few seniors on a team loaded with underclassman talent that is heading into the PIAA Class AA girls soccer quarterfinal playoff round Saturday with a 23-0 record.

The offense certainly has done its job this season by netting a staggering 163 goals in 23 games.

But the defense has been just as good.

With Jordyn White, Beth Perri and Erica Schwab, among others, in front of her, Kelly has the enviable role of caretaker of a goal that sees very few threats.

“My defense is doing very well,” Kelly said. “We've all played together for a long time, so we know what we are going to do and what the other team is going to do next. Without them, I would have to do a lot more work.”

Kelly and the defense have recorded 17 shutouts, including 11 in a row.

The last time a team scored against the Planets was Valley on Sept. 29, and that was against the Mars backups.

The Planets have surrendered only seven goals and North Allegheny is the only team to score more than one goal against them.

Kelly's real action comes in practice, when she faces some of that potent offense.

“We always do a lot of shooting drills in practice,” Kelly said. “I can keep sharp since I really haven't had to do much in games yet. Practice is basically where I do most of my work.”

Kelly has the best seat in the house for the rampage that has been the Mars girls soccer season.

Kelly, who also plays on club teams in the offseason, has seen lots of quality soccer in her career.

But she said none have come close to the talent level of this Mars team.

“This is probably the best team I have played for and maybe even better than any team I have played against,” Kelly said.

But even she knows the lopsided results, like the Planets' 8-0 win over Villa Maria in the first round of the state playoffs, won't last forever.

Kelly, though, said she is ready for whatever finally comes.

“We go into each game knowing there is a potential we could lose,” Kelly said. “We go in hard in the beginning and get off to a good start.”