Sunday, November 9, 2025
The Long Island Futsal Academy’s Girls U18 Team captured the U.S. Futsal Federation Northeast Regional championship Feb. 17 in Atlantic City, defeating Arsenal Academy Saint-Loius from Quebec, Canada, 2-1 on a late goal by Amelia Fort.
The victory, which also featured a goal from Gracie Sanders and 11 saves from goalkeeper Brooke Delzatto, qualified the team for USFF Nationals in Las Vegas, adding to its growing list of accomplishments. It has also qualified for the U.S. Youth Futsal Nationals in Kansas City after finishing runner-up in the Mid-Atlantic Regional.
Both national tournaments take place during the same week — beginning July 18 — but coach Chris Sanders said the decision which one to attend wasn’t difficult.
“The USFF Northeast Regional was the biggest tournament we’ve ever won, but the window is closing for this group of girls to compete in the USYF so we’re going to Kansas City,” he said.
LIFA, with approximately 100 members, is comprised of some of the most talented young players in the area, including former Olympic Development Program soccer players, past club futsal and soccer teammates, and high school teammates including All-County honorees.
Merrick’s Izzy Rohr, Oceanside’s Sam Gemmo and Natalia Seminatore, Baldwin’s Vanessa Frangiadakis, Bellmore’s Alanna Schectman and Massapequa’s Kaia Mueller are part of the 11-deep U18 girls roster.
Futsal is a fast-paced, skill-focused variation of soccer played on a hard court primarily indoors with a smaller, low-bounce ball. It emphasizes quick decision-making, technical ability, and creativity — qualities that have helped many world-class soccer players develop their game. The sport originated in 1930 when Juan Carlos Ceriani Gravier, a teacher in Uruguay, created a version of indoor football for play in YMCAs.
It’s 5-on-5, including goalkeepers, with unlimited substitutions permitted on the fly. The playing surface, with a minimum size of 82’ by 52’, is marked by lines; no walls or boards are used. There are two periods of 20 minutes with stoppages inside of two minutes each period.
Beyond the U18 team’s regional success, it has dominated locally as well. The girls have competed in a Long Island futsal league, winning the championship three straight seasons. In the last two years, they went undefeated, and this year, they took on an even greater challenge by moving up to a division where they compete against boys their age, continuing to prove their skill and resilience.
LIFA won four games over three days at the Atlantic City Convention Center, beginning with a 4-1 triumph Feb. 15 over defending USFF champion Safira Futsal Academy from Massachusetts. Fort scored twice and both Gracie Sanders and Delzatto scored into an empty net.
Sanders had the game’s lone goal the next day in a win over Amiral de Jean de la Mennais 0 (La Prairie, Quebec) with four minutes remaining in regulation, while Sanders, Mueller, Frangiadakis and Rohr scored in a 4-1 semifinal win over Connecticut-based Hat City Futsal.
