Who defended the box the best in a single season?
The high school question has been answered, but the college one remains to be seen.
Kendall Felix, a senior at Eastern York, currently holds the goalie save record at the high school. And she still has two more games left in her senior year.
Setting records is in the Felixs’ blood. The former record was held by Kendall’s older sister Kelsey at 178, which she recorded in 2020.
But, on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022 Kendall broke that record in her game against York Suburban. While the Golden Knights fell 3-0 to the Trojans, the youngest Felix made enough saves to beat her sibling’s Eastern York record. Kendall now has a total of 201 saves in 2022.
“I think most of it was giving my all 100 percent of the time and just taking everything step by step,” Kendall said. “And wanting to beat Kelsey was a part of that too. I kind of think it’s cool. There’s just rivalry. Sibling rivalry. It’s fun.”
Kelsey, currently in her sophomore year at Lock Haven University, has “started every game so far this season,” said the girls’ father, Garrett Felix, who is a PIAA, NCAA, and USA Field Hockey umpire. Kelsey also umpires.
Most recently, Kelsey had six saves against Saint Louis to lift the Bald Eagles to a 5-0 shutout. Lock Haven is currently 10-2 overall and 3-1 in the Atlantic 10 conference. Lock Haven field hockey is in Division I.
Eastern is 6-9-1 on the season. Five of their six wins have been shutouts.
“She was really supportive,” Kendall said of her sister. “When I told her (about the record) she kind of just laughed.”
Kelsey supports Kendall “and all the sports that she plays, especially hockey,” Garrett said. In addition to field hockey, Kendall also plays basketball and participates in track and field.
When asked about her collegiate future, Kendall gave what now seems to be the textbook Felix answer.
“Currently I’m looking to join Kelsey at Lock Haven and play field hockey, as well as do track and field,” she said.
Steph Felix, the Eastern York head coach and a Lock Haven grad, is excited that both of her daughters are following in her footsteps.
“I know the culture up there, and it’s a neat experience to be part of the hockey history,” Steph said, who won three Division II national championships during her time at Lock Haven. “It’s like a family. Everybody is so supportive and inclusive.”
With Garrett and Steph being just as immersed in the sport as their daughters are, it “takes a lot of scheduling and balance,” Steph said.
“It’s not as bad now that Kelsey’s in college,” Garrett said. “It’s just Kendall. But still, we’re scheduling time to go see Kelsey play and be able to see Kendall play.”
The new save record is as much of an accomplishment as it is a target on Kendall. And even though players are literally gunning for both Kendall and Kelsey in the cage, their parents have confidence in their daughters’ abilities.
Steph admitted that she can be worried “at times,” but she knows that her daughters “have a good foundation of technique and skillset.”
“They just have to utilize it to the best of their abilities given what surface they’re playing on,” she said.
Garrett added laughing, “and their height helps in goal, too. We’re just proud.”
As for Kendall, she’s looking forward to the rest of her time at Eastern before setting her sights on Lock Haven.
“I’m excited to see where this takes me,” she said.
