Like many high school athletes, Rosemount’s Alyssa Derby follows a pregame regimen that she rarely breaks.

Because each game contains it's own set of variables, having control of the small things helps the senior maintain her focus on the field.

“I eat scrambled eggs and toast for dinner and always wear the same headband (when playing),” Derby said.

The late breakfast energized Derby, who scored on a fast break just 12 minutes into the game to boost the Irish to a 2-0 win Tuesday night at Lakeville South High School.

Sporadic rain showers plagued the field, weather conditions the Irish haven't had much experience playing in.

Luckily for Rosemount (11-1-2, 5-1-2), who’s ranked second in the Class 2A coaches’ poll, Derby was honed.

The midfielder received a split pass from Carolyn Ciriacks, pulled the ball back to lose a defender and bounced a shot into the bottom left corner of the Cougars' net.

Irish coach Gretchen Stramel said Derby’s one of the most composed players on the squad and has a selfless attitude when it comes to her teammates.

Her ability to keep cool helped her post the best free-throw percentage in school history last winter as a member of the Rosemount girls' basketball team.

“Derby’s always ready to work and -- no matter what -- is always putting in her time for each sport,” said senior goalkeeper and soccer team captain Maggie Tulay, who is also on the Irish's basketball squad.

Stramel, who was a three-sport athlete and played on the Rosemount girls' soccer team that made three appearances at the state tournament from 1995-1997, said the current Irish squad can experience similar success by finding an atypical affinity for the game.

“They have to have a love for it and a willingness to play at a different level and push their bodies beyond what they’re used to doing,” Stramel said.

The Irish's captains retain their roles in other sports and having other multisport athletes has aided Rosemount’s dominance in the regular season since the girls are playing sports year-round and keep their bodies in peak shape, Stramel added.

That dominance showed through 60 minutes of play Tuesday, as the Irish took a commanding 2-0 lead before Lakeville South (9-3-2, 4-3-2) began to land its scoring changes and possess the ball.

Tulay, who is also captain of the Cougars basketball and track teams, was under fire in the final 15 minutes of the game but made two diving saves down the stretch to preserve the shut out.

She credits her practice following passes as a small forward in the post and the quick twitch muscles she’s developed in track for helping stop the shots.

The team's motto is “We before me” and Stramel has seen it materialize, as six players already have double-digit points compared to just one all of last season.

Rosemount defeated two-time defending Class 2A champion Eagan earlier in the regular season, which could potentially earn them the top seed for the Section 3 playoffs, which begins next week.

The postseason will be a fresh start for many teams around the state, and Derby acknowledged that despite her team's success in beating the reigning champions, next time around could be entirely different.

“It helps us in the long run knowing we can compete and win against them, but every game is different. You never know,” Derby said.

Alyssa Derby scored 12 minutes into the game to spark Rosemount’s 2-0 road win over Lakeville South on Tuesday night.

Derby separated herself from a defender with a pull move and fired a shot from 15 yards out to the opposite corner of the Cougars' net.

Ranked second in the Class 2A coaches’ poll, the Irish (11-1-2, 5-1-2) have shutout five of their past six opponents.

Rosemount extended its lead in the 52nd minutes when Sydney Schultz sent a cross to Lauren Bangh, who headed the ball past Cougars goalie Emily Bethel.

Bethel made three saves for Lakeville South (9-3-2, 4-3-2) while counterpart Maggie Tulay stopped all six shots she faced.