BRIDGEVILLE — The shot was a long time coming — and it was perfect.

Midfielder Jence Rhoads had little time to react after her shot bent into the top of the net.

She raised her arms and took a few excited steps toward the Slippery Rock HighSchool bench before a throng of teammates mobbed her and sent her tumbling to the Chartiers Valley turf.

By the time the senior had crawled out from beneath the humanity, the shocking reality had set in on both benches.

The Rockets girls soccer team had emerged with an improbable 1-0 double-overtime victory over WPIAL champion South Park in the first round of the PIAA Class AA playoffs.

"Oh, my gosh," Rhoads said, still trying to fathom what had happened. "I'm so excited. Wow. Wow."

It's the first state playoff victory for the Slippery Rock girls soccer program in school history, and it came as a result of a remarkable match.

South Park (18-6-1) dominated the play from the start, firing off 23 shots to Slippery Rock's five in the contest.

Most of the action during the 98-minute match was in the shadow of Slippery Rock's net.

But that didn't matter. The only thing that mattered was Rhoads' shot that was perfectly placed between the cross bar and the outstretched hand of South Park keeper Samantha Doby.

"Technically, on paper, individually, they are more talented than we are," said Slippery Rock coach Blair Gantz. "But what happened today was all heart. I have nine seniors, and they didn't want to play their last game."

Rhoads made certain of that.

The Rockets' leading scorer was held in check all match until she corralled a carom 10 yards in front of the South Park net, drifted to her right and had an open lane to the net.

It was only her second shot of the match.

"That's exactly where I wanted to put it," Rhoads said.

Unfortunately for South Park, its shots weren't nearly as accurate.

The Eagles squandered opportunity after opportunity to score early in the match and especially late.

Just five minutes into the contest, South Park had a breakaway opportunity, but lost handle of the ball.

The Eagles outshot Slippery Rock 11-1 in the first half and had six corner kicks before the Rockets finally got one late in the first overtime.

South Park junior forward Brittany Pfaff thought she had won the game for her team — twice.

She hit the cross bar with a shot late in the first overtime and thought she had scored the game-winner just one minute in the second overtime when she sent a left-footed shot past freshman keeper Ali Doyle.

But offsides was called.

"It's very hard," South Park coach Shelly Thropp said. "We just didn't do it. We didn't execute. That's why we lost the game.

"It just wasn't in the cards, I guess."

It was in the cards for Slippery Rock (20-2), which will take on Seton LaSalle (17-4) — which beat Karns City 2-0 — Saturday at a site and time to be determined.

Doyle made 12 saves in goal for the Rockets. She has started the last two matches in goal for Kyra Foley, who suffered a concussion in the win against Villa Maria a week ago.

"They had more looks than us, more quality looks than us," Gantz said. "But our goalkeeper was amazing."

"She did awesome," Rhoads added. "She's been nervous the last couple of games, but she was unbelievable."