Even in recent years, the goalkeeper shoes at Chicago-area club Eclipse Select have proven difficult to fill.

With youth national team and top college recruits like Taylor Vancil, Alexa Gaul, Erin Dees and Region II selection Darcy Hargadon all filling slots on older age group teams, the club has been prolific in producing goalkeepers.

Add Kylie Morgan to the list.

The Aurora, IL, high school freshman plays for the club’s U15 team and also for U.S. Youth Soccer’s Region II ODP squad. Morgan was at the ODP Interegional along with club teammate and defender Crystal Thomas at Thanksgiving. Seeing her play confirms her quality, and Eclipse goalkeeper coach Mike Bristol is bullish on the younger backstop’s potential.

“She’s been doing really well. She comes to training each day and works at a high level,” Bristol said. “She works with other kids who have achieved national team status and tries to emulate what they do in training. She drives the ball really well off the ground and handles her goal kicks and punting well. She works on her covering and is explosive in getting to dives, whether it’s a low or high ball.”

Bristol continues ticking off Morgan’s attributes, including reflexes and angle play.

“I’m hoping she continues working to develop,” he said. “She is still learning to read the game and I think she can be more confident in her decision-making as she understands when to come and when to stay. Once that is fully developed she will work even better with the backs in front of her.”

The very-agile Morgan, who can make some wonderfully-athletic saves, said it’s as much a matter of positioning as it is explosiveness.

“If you are in the right starting spot when the ball comes, you’re likely to make that save,” she said. “I try to stay focused even if I go a long time without having to do anything, so I don’t get caught in the wrong spot.”

Morgan, who excelled at the U14 National ID camp in California last summer, said she relishes the chances to play at such events, including ODP domestic and international trips.

“It is fun and a lot of hard work. It’s a really cool experience,” Morgan said. “It’s a good chance to play with good competition and to be with other kids who are competing to play the same position.”

Kylie’s mother Michelle said her daughter works very hard at training both with the team and on her own, on things like plyometrics and technique, noting it reflects her daughter’s driving personality.

Bristol said Morgan’s personality is well-suited for the goalkeeper position.

She has a good head on herself and doesn’t get rattled. She’s an even-keeled kid. She doesn’t get frantic,” he said. “She doesn’t show her emotions a whole lot. If something bad happens she moves on pretty quickly.”