Bartlett’s Megan Kron maps out every possible scenario in her head before the game begins.
The senior goalkeeper stands envisions herself standing between the posts, waiting and almost inevitably stopping everything that crosses her path during the moment of impact.
“When it comes down to it, if there’s a through ball, my mind gets kind of freaked out because I think it might be a breakaway,” she said. “I just try my best to get in the best position possible.
“If there’s a close-up shot, it’s a matter of how quickly I can get it or just reading the play.”
As the final piece of the Hawks’ defense, Kron is the rock — or the wall. The goal is her sanctuary, where very little ever gets past her.
A four-year starter, she’s one of the best players at her position in the state, and she takes a particular pride in her shot-stopping prowess.
Last season as a junior, Kron posted more shutouts with 13 than goals allowed with nine. During an 11-game unbeaten streak (9-0-2), she went nearly 900 minutes without giving up a goal.
Overall, in 1,620 minutes, Kron made 124 saves for an 0.44 goals-against average. She earned all-area and all-conference honors.
“It was a boost to my confidence getting all of those shutouts, but I’d have to say it also boosted my teammates,” Kron said. “We all get more motivated to have more shutouts together and get those wins.
“We’re pretty good at defending and not letting anyone score on us.”
Her poise and skill under pressure are her defining traits as a player, according to sophomore midfielder Amelia Medvid.
“Megan is calm with the ball while she’s under pressure, and it feels like whenever she has it back there, she knows what to do,” Medvid said. “It’s like she has it all planned out.
“Off the field, she’s kind and passionate, and that passion for the game is what makes her an amazing goalie.”
Junior midfielder Mia Lamz pointed out how Kron puts together the physical and technical for an imposing package.
“From being one of the most fit players on our team to having some of the best technical skills, Megan makes those crucial saves to help us win games,” Lamz said.
“She encourages us to be our best, even during tough games. Megan is thoughtful to her teammates and even opponents. She shows good sportsmanship, even after a tough loss.”
Kron’s discipline and approach compares to an artist or sculptor. She loves the act of creating and working directly with her hands. She started playing goalkeeper around age 6.
She also grew up playing basketball and baseball. Part of her excellent reaction time and reflection is the willingness to wait out what the offensive player is going to do.
“I feel like I’m the leaning back kind of goalkeeper who waits for the player to make that decision,” Kron said. “I’ve always been good at anticipating where the player is going to shoot it.
“I can read the plays and that’s why I’m so good at stopping penalty kicks.”
The 5-foot-7 Kron was the starting point guard in basketball for Bartlett. She combines athleticism, speed and superb instincts.
The two sports are like rhyming couplets that play off each other. In basketball, Kron was the orchestrator who helped the pieces around her flow into a winning puzzle.
By playing goalkeeper, she becomes the final word.
“When you start playing at a young age, they have everybody rotate in at goalkeeper to draw out new positions,” she said. “I think what I always responded to was how I could control the game.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
