The soccer ball is crossed perfectly across the smooth futsal gym floor and into the goalie’s box. Freshman Felicia Knox strikes and slams the spinning ball past the opposing goalie and into the back of the net. Goal! Her teammates cheer with wide smiles of excitement displayed on their faces as this resounding goal represents the first goal ever scored for the U.S.A. by a female U.S. Youth Futsal National Team player. Knox, playing on the first U.S. Youth Futsal Girl’s National Team in Toronto, Canada, back in 2014, was ecstatic as this goal would soon set the tone for the next two years of her futsal career.

“I got the chills, and when I scored the goal I gained that extra confidence and felt like I really belonged here and deserved to be on the team,” Knox said. “It [the goal] got everyone pumped up and all of the coaches were excited because they always said that the first goal is critical to get the team going.”   

This first goal was just the start of Knox’s experience with the U.S. Youth Futsal National Team. In 2015 she tried out for the team again, and after a series of three camps she was selected to be part of the team that would travel to Costa Rica. This past year she went through a similar process and took part in the team’s summer trip to Medellín, Columbia.    

“I was part of the first trip to Canada and then the following years I came back to tryout again and I made it again. It’s so fun just to travel and play futsal and the overall trip and experience kept getting better every year,” Knox said. “I also wanted to grow as an all around futsal player and expand my knowledge of other cultures.”

Not only was Knox selected to be a member of these three teams, she was also appointed as the first-ever captain in Canada and then was able to maintain the status of captain the next two years. According to Knox, this title was very unexpected but a great honor. As captain, Knox participated in the exchange of a little U.S. flag with the opponent before each game. She felt it was her responsibility to set the example for her teammates by being a good role model on and off the field.   

“She was extremely nice and probably the best captain I’ve ever seen in my whole life. She’s not afraid to be the person that brings everyone together as a team. On the court, you could just tell that captain was made for her,” the only teammate who also went on all three trips Tiffany Bernot said. “The way she encouraged everyone to do their best and play hard is exactly what a captain should do. Some of her greatest strengths are her communication, mental toughness, emotional discipline and self confidence.”   

Throughout the trips, Knox played three futsal games against local teams, but for her the trips also served as a valuable educational experience. According to Knox, it was really interesting to be in the different countries, experience the different cultures and hear the different languages.

Since then, Knox has kept her futsal passion intact by continuing to play futsal in the winter season with her Sporting Blue Valley ECNL club team. According to sophomore teammate Gabby Grimaldi, Knox shows significant leadership on this team as well.     

“She shows leadership on the field by talking to everyone and supporting us,” Grimaldi said. “The best part about playing with Felicia is her creativity and ability to make plays out of nothing.”

Knox’s futsal journey began back when she was 8 years old when her father, Tom Knox, first encouraged her to play. According to Knox, her father liked futsal better than indoor in which one can just play the ball against the wall, and felt that futsal would help Knox more by allowing her to develop better foot skills.

“I encouraged Felicia to play futsal because it allowed her to get way more touches on the ball. It forced her to become comfortable with the ball under pressure as the space is tighter,” Tom said. “I like that futsal made her play quicker and know what she is going to do next with the ball.”

For now, Knox continues to play with her club team and has high aspirations of trying out again next year for the U.S. Youth Futsal National Team.

“I play futsal with my club team, and I also really want to go back and try out for the National team again because I grew so close with my teammates and the trips are always so much fun,” Knox said.