Shoemaker relentless in net

Updated: October 19, 2011 10:04PM

The coaches try to tell her to take it easy. It’s only a drill. No need to dive after the ball.

But Kelsey Shoemaker can’t help it. It’s practice. She knows this. But when the ball comes flying her way, she dives for it, trying to stop it. It’s a goalkeeper’s instinct.

Later, during a game, Crown Point has this one well in hand. But Shoemaker is limping. Goalkeepers sacrifice themselves. Shoemaker knows this. And she lives by this unwritten rule.

But the Bulldogs coaching staff knows better than to try to take her out of the game to rest her. No way they’re going to face Shoemaker’s wrath. This is her time. She’s the Crown Point keeper, and, by golly, no one is taking that away from her.

The senior has a remarkable 10 shutouts this season. Yes, 10. And she is one of the major reasons the Bulldogs (16-4) find themselves alive in the state tournament, playing in Saturday’s Class 2A northern semistate at Fort Wayne Snider.

“She’s just an absolute monster,” said Crown Point coach Chris Mikrut, meaning that in the best way possible. “She won’t come out of a game, no matter how hurt she is. She doesn’t have a turnoff switch.”

It’s the only way Shoemaker, whose father also was a keeper during his playing days, knows how to play the game.

“It’s hard to watch someone else play your position,” Shoemaker said of her reasons for wanting to stay in the game at all times. “Some people say keepers are kind of crazy. It definitely takes a little bit of toughness, and you have to make sure your head is in the game at all times. You have to be OK with putting yourself on the line for the team.”

Shoemaker did that Saturday in the Highland Regional final against Valparaiso. The game was scoreless after regulation and overtime, so it went to penalty kicks to decide the outcome. Crown Point prevailed 3-1 in the PKs, and Shoemaker relished every edge-of-your-seat moment.

“I love PKs,” Shoemaker said. “I think they’re fun.”

Shoemaker became the team’s full-time starter this season. The last two years she shared the keeper duties with teammate Christa Hendrickson, who graduated after last season. One game, one would start and play a half. The next game, the other would start and play a half. The two worked well together in goal, but it’s an uncommon situation to have two keepers.

“I’m sure it was tough,” Mikrut said, “especially with how competitive Kelsey is. It was a tough decision for us. We had two girls who were both working really hard. A lot of kids couldn’t have done that. But they both became better goalies because they supported one another.”

The job, though, is Shoemaker’s now. And she’s enjoying every minute of it. She takes a 1.26 goals against average into Saturday’s semistate. Of the 10 shutouts, five came in Duneland Conference play.

“It really is a full team effort to get the shutout,” Shoemaker said. “The defense and the offense both have to play well. It’s exciting for the whole team to get a shutout and win games like that.”

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