The record isn't up to Assumption High School soccer standards, but the Rockets are starting to show signs that they'll once again contend for a Seventh Region title. 
Assumption's Jenna Gerstle, left, tries to control a pass during Tuesday night's game against Male. (By Matt Stone, The Courier-Journal) Sept. 21, 2010
Assumption got goals from four sophomores and recorded its second shutout in as many days in a 4-0 victory over visiting Male on Tuesday.
The Rockets are ranked No.16 in the state but are just 4-8-2. That includes a 1-6-2 mark against top-25 teams.
"We knew it was going to take us awhile to get organized defensively, and we've had a remarkably difficult schedule," said coach Kenyon Meyer, who lost nine seniors from last year's 14-8-2 squad. "We've been extremely competitive in every game we've played except the first Sacred Heart game (a 4-0 loss on Aug.29)."
Assumption finished 1-2 in last week's Lady Knights Challenge Cup at Lexington Catholic, beating No.23 Woodford County 2-0 before falling to No.1 Sacred Heart 2-1 and No.3 Manual 3-1. The Rockets whipped Atherton 10-0 on Monday.
"I thought we took a step against Sacred Heart, and I thought we took another significant step tonight," Meyer said. "(Male) is a team that has played pretty well, so this is a great result for us."
Male (6-6-1) played with Assumption for the first 30 minutes before the Rockets finally got going. In the 33rd minute Christen McAllister fed a nice pass to fellow sophomore Dee Dee Sliter, who was running through the middle of the field. With Male's Holly Naurt coming toward the ball, Sliter kept charging and put it past the goalkeeper for a 1-0 lead.
"The goalie almost had it in her hands, and I just kept going right through it," said Sliter, a member of the Assumption basketball team who did not play soccer as a freshman.
Said Meyer: "That was just raw power."
The Rockets broke it open with three goals in the first 15 minutes of the second half. Brandy Orthbecker's shot from the left wing made it 2-0 in the 42nd minute, and McAllister made it 3-0 on an assist from Rebecca Schwager in the 53rd minute. Two minutes later Morgan Riggs scored on an assist from Sliter, making it 4-0.
Sophomores Riggs (eight) and McAllister (six) are the Rockets' top goal scorers this season.
"We have an extremely strong sophomore class, and I think they've been led by upperclassmen who have been through the battles," Meyer said. "They're starting to come together."
Assumption outshot Male 22-9. The Lady Bulldogs managed just four shots on goal.
"For some reason we got really tired," Male coach Nikki Schulze said. "I think we're one of the fittest teams in Louisville, but we didn't show it tonight. ...
"When we're on, we're a very dangerous team. Tonight we were very off against a very good team, and the score showed it."
Meyer has 2½ more weeks to continue bringing his young team together before postseason play. The Rockets have lost to Sacred Heart in the Seventh Region final the past four years, and most observers expect the teams to meet for the title again next month.
"I'm always concerned that losing can be contagious," Meyer said of his team's early struggles. "But we've got a lot of extremely confident players, and they never doubted themselves for a moment."
Jason Frakes can be reached at (502) 582-4046.
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