As U.S. Women’s Futsal National Team head coach Marcia Tafarel was selecting just 13 players to take part in the team’s third and final invitation-only Identification Training Camp from May 16-19 at COPA Soccer Training Center in Walnut Creek, Calif., she knew the field was riddled with talent from all over. When the dust settled on her selections, Stony Brook women's soccer junior Emanuelly Ferreira was chosen to be a part of the team.
"It's always an honor getting called up to the US Futsal National Team," said Ferreira. "We have the first-ever Women's FIFA Futsal World Cup coming up in 2025, as well as CONCAAF Qualifiers soon, so I'm very excited for that and what the future holds for US Futsal."
"Futsal" is an indoor version of soccer that is played on a "basketball"-sized field that is 40 by 20 meters. Fustal is becoming more and more popular and its smaller rosters make Ferreira's inclusion even more impressive. Compared to the 11 players on a soccer field, Futsal fields teams of five players (one of which is a goalkeeper). They also use a smaller and heavier ball, which leads to it being less bouncy and puts an emphasis on passing, receiving, dribbling and moving while under pressure.
In her first season with the Seawolves, Ferreira appeared in 11 games and registered over 160 minutes on the pitch.