Eastern’s women’s soccer team has a peculiar situation at the goalkeeper position. 

Redshirt sophomore Ashlyn Hoover is currently the team’s only option as a goalie. This is because the team’s other goalkeeper, sophomore Ella Kratochvil, has been sidelined with a fractured wrist she suffered on the team’s third day of preseason activities. 

Kratochvil, who took over at starting goalkeeper as the season went on last year, was slated to compete with Hoover for the starting role again this year. 

Kratochvil finished last season with two wins, seven losses and two draws while in net. Kratochvil kept three clean sheets last season, conceding an average of 1.36 goals per game and posting a save percentage of 0.810. 

Manager Dirk Bennett was originally supposed to have three goalkeepers at his disposal, but a late change to the roster in June meant the team was forced to rely on the pair of Hoover and Kratochvil. The decision to remain with the pair was one that Bennett was happy with. 

Bennett is hopeful Kratochvil can resume activities with the team and get back to training in time for the start of Ohio Valley Conference play, which starts with an away game against Morehead State University on Sept. 22. 

“You know, bad luck happens,” Bennett said. “It’s just one of those freak accidents in a practice that just kind of happens, and you can’t control it always.” 

In the meantime, it’s Hoover’s net. 

Hoover said she must play a little more conservative knowing that if she were to injure herself, the team would be forced to put an outfield player in net. 

Hoover, who spoke on the situation following Thursday’s 1-0 win over Valparaiso, said the opportunity has presented its own set of personal challenges. 

“A lot of times, I would actually go lift when I didn’t play, but now that I do play, I like to just relax [after a game], make sure that I’m eating and getting some protein in,” Hoover said. 

Being the team’s only goalkeeper is not only physically demanding but mentally taxing too. 

There have been multiple occasions this year where the team elected to run practices without a goalkeeper when they feel it’s right to keep Hoover off her feet. 

Sometimes, the team would even put a coach in Hoover’s place to try to fill the gaps. 

Hoover says in addition to the stress of trying to stay healthy, she misses working with Kratochvil and the way they pick each other up and support each other if one is having a tough time. 

“If I’m having a rough day in practice, I’m alone,” Hoover said. “Nobody else has got me right now.” 

Bennett said managing Hoover’s workload in practice along with her taking pride in recovering from a game properly is crucial in making the best out of this situation. He complimented her professionalism in doing her part to stay healthy to help the team. 

“She’s answered the call very, very well,” Bennett said. “It’s probably very frustrating because even from a training perspective where we want to work with her, there’s days we say, ‘Hey, you’re just shut down. Go be careful. Go recover’” 

Hoover made appearances in seven matches last season, with four of those coming as starts. She earned her first clean sheet last season in a 0-0 draw against Purdue Fort Wayne on Aug. 31, 2023. 

Hoover had only gotten time in one game the remainder of the season, a full 90 minutes against University of Southern Indiana in the final regular season game of the season. 

Gabe Newman can be reached at 581-2812 or at ghnewman@eiu.edu.