Eastern junior goalkeeper Jenny Williams had started 36 matches in her Panthers’ career prior to the 2008 season.

She ranks fifth in Eastern history in career saves, second in career shutouts and second in goals against average for a career. Her 0.93 goals against average in 2006 ranks as the fourth best individual season in Eastern history.

However, with a lingering ankle injury suffered before the team’s third match of the season, as well as the emergence of sophomore goalkeeper Kaylin Lorbert, Williams has only started two of the Panthers’ six matches this season.

But even with Lorbert’s emergence, she said she still credits Williams with helping her grow as a player.

“Her experience helps, and she’s a good role model,” Lorbert said.

The combination of Williams’ career success and Lorbert’s play during her playing time in 2007 as well as this season, Eastern head coach Tim Nowak has a luxury that is quite rare in soccer.

“Every coach wants to have two quality goalkeepers, but it doesn’t always work out that way,” Nowak said. “It makes for a very competitive environment, and the nice thing is that neither of them are satisfied with being good. Both of them compete and challenge each other in each practice trying to get better.”

Lorbert started three matches in 2007 as a freshman and played in five others in relief of Williams. After Williams’ injury this season, Lorbert was thrust into the starting role for matches at the Northern Illinois Invitational against the host Huskies as well as Northern Iowa.

For the tournament, Lorbert made 16 saves and allowed only one goal.

Despite Lorbert’s solid play in the NIU Invitational, the Panthers were unable to put points on the scoreboard and finished the tournament 0-1-1 with a 1-0 loss to the Huskies and a 0-0 tie against Northern Iowa.

Even with the loss and tie, the Ohio Valley Conference recognized Lorbert’s performance as she was named OVC Goalkeeper of the Week for the week of Aug. 25-31.

The stretch of matches included the NIU tournament as well as 20 minutes of relief in a 5-1 loss to Purdue in which Lorbert made four saves and allowed one goal. Overall for the week she had a 0.82 goals against average in 219 minutes.

Lorbert said that the competition between her and Williams during practice helps the two goalkeepers stay on top of their game.

“If one of us makes a big save, we tell them ‘good job’ for making the save,” Lorbert said. “But then the other one will try to go out and duplicate it.”

Even with Lorbert’s success this season, Nowak said that Williams is still a big part of the team.

“She’s definitely contributed every year towards the success of the program,” Nowak said. “She feels the moment in a match, and the bigger the moment the more ready she is to play.”

After the team’s weekend matches against Wright State and Eastern Michigan, Nowak said that Williams’ ankle was still not at 100 percent but that she was available if necessary. Still, he emphasized that Lorbert had earned the right to start.

With four straight road matches coming up leading into Ohio Valley Conference play, it is uncertain who will be in goal for the Panthers each match. However, one thing is for sure. Whether it’s Lorbert or Williams, the Panthers are confident they can win with either one.

Collin Whitchurch can be reached at 581-7944 or at cfwhitchurch@eiu.edu.

Sophomore goalkeeper Kaylin Lorbert passes a ball Sunday afternoon vs. Eastern Michigan at Lakeside Field. Lorbert has filled in for injured junior goalkeeper Jenny Williams for four of the first six matches. Williams had a 0.93 goals against average in 2

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