Knott seeks to tie up
future honors at Prospect
By Mike Garofola
The Mid-Suburban League is full of some of the best players around: Lauren Burk and Jenny Norris (Fremd) and Juliana Moreno and Tina Teik (Barrington) to name a few. That quartet was named to the 2019 Chicagoland Soccer All-State Team and were set to return for this spring season.
However, one of the great beauties of the MSL is the young players who emerge, then make a mark that everyone notices.
Prospect has one of those exciting players on its hands.
It's Abby Knott.
Manager Tom Froats thought highly thought of freshman last year and his show of confidence was a key in her development, particularly when some nerves got in the way of this talented young player.
"I was a little surprised when I made varsity," said Knott, whose role last season was as a defensive midfielder.
"Being one of the youngest players on the varsity was difficult at the start. As was the fact that I was playing a position I was so unfamiliar with."
As any player will tell you, playing your best soccer is all about confidence - no matter how much talent you have. Confidence is the difference between consistently good performances or finding yourself on the bench as a reserve.
"There was some self-doubt on my part in the first few weeks. But when coach (Froats) pulled me aside after practice one day and told me I was on this team for a reason and that I had a lot to offer to the team, then I felt like I belonged."
Knott figures being in the presence of a senior-dominated team with so many strong leaders on hand allowed her to get into more of a comfort zone as the season went on.
"I've always played an attacking position in club soccer with Green White, but here in high school, I was asked to basically track players in our end of the field," said Knott.
That's where former teammate Tina Suto played a key role in Knott's understanding of her spot as a defensive midfielder. She gave the now-sophomore a boost in her confidence.
"Tina was one of our great senior leaders, and she would give me a lot of help and instructions during the game, not in a bossy way. It was all positive, and it really helped me get more comfortable with my position."
Knott is no stranger to the athletic department at Prospect. She hit the ground running as a freshman playing JV golf and made the no. 2 spot on the varsity this season.
Next up was basketball, a sport she began playing in advance of entering kindergarten.
"I started at the 'Y' and haven't stopped," laughed Knott, who is a point guard.
"My schedule is so crazy, but I like it that way," she said.
A key to her academic success is to start some of her homework during the school day. Then she’s off to the course, hardwood or pitch to train, or play games. When she gets home, it’s time for some dinner before finishing up the night with homework.
This three-sport student-athlete said the lessons she learned a year ago from the seniors -- work ethic, strong academics, training and playing hard -- have stayed with her.
"Being in that atmosphere last year only made me work that much harder this year in those first few weeks of the preseason," says Knott.
"It was a lot of fun to be on the varsity, and it was a great experience, but there were times that it got a little lonely for. I missed my friends who were playing either on the freshman team or with the JV."
Knott would have had the chance to welcome some of her friends to the varsity this season if not for COVID-19. But the soccer team was one way she stayed in touch with them.
"(Froats) did a good job of keeping us all connected through group chats, and with Zoom video for 45-60 minutes on Saturdays to instill hope that the season might not be over, and to keep everything all in perspective before the season was officially called off," said Knott.
Last season’s season contest with perennial state power New Trier provided Knott with one of two fond memories from 2019. Chicagoland Soccer All-Stater Ashley Welk bagged a late overtime equalizer to secure a 1-1 against the highly regarded Trevians.
"It was cold, rainy, and the wind was whipping around sideways, but just being a part of that game was exciting for me," said Knott. Her next highlight came a few weeks later.
That's when the Lady Knights used a double from Knott to overwhelm McHenry 5-0 in their home invitational.
"We didn't play very well that weekend, but I scored twice, and our other freshman, Hannah Mekky scored three, so it felt good to get a chance to show what I could do when playing as an outside midfielder that day."
This talented young player made another impression late last season on her manager, who had this to say about Knott following a wonderful performance in the Lady Knights 1-0 victory over Carmel in their Fremd Regional opener.
"Abby has been a pleasant surprise for us all season, and as you saw tonight, she can do a lot of things with and without the ball," Froats said.
"She has shown she will be a big part of our team ... ."
It's clear Knott, with her direct running, pace, and ability to create, score and direct the Prospect attack, will become a serious threat in 2021.
future honors at Prospect
By Mike Garofola
The Mid-Suburban League is full of some of the best players around: Lauren Burk and Jenny Norris (Fremd) and Juliana Moreno and Tina Teik (Barrington) to name a few. That quartet was named to the 2019 Chicagoland Soccer All-State Team and were set to return for this spring season.
However, one of the great beauties of the MSL is the young players who emerge, then make a mark that everyone notices.
Prospect has one of those exciting players on its hands.
It's Abby Knott.
Manager Tom Froats thought highly thought of freshman last year and his show of confidence was a key in her development, particularly when some nerves got in the way of this talented young player.
"I was a little surprised when I made varsity," said Knott, whose role last season was as a defensive midfielder.
"Being one of the youngest players on the varsity was difficult at the start. As was the fact that I was playing a position I was so unfamiliar with."
As any player will tell you, playing your best soccer is all about confidence - no matter how much talent you have. Confidence is the difference between consistently good performances or finding yourself on the bench as a reserve.
"There was some self-doubt on my part in the first few weeks. But when coach (Froats) pulled me aside after practice one day and told me I was on this team for a reason and that I had a lot to offer to the team, then I felt like I belonged."
Knott figures being in the presence of a senior-dominated team with so many strong leaders on hand allowed her to get into more of a comfort zone as the season went on.
"I've always played an attacking position in club soccer with Green White, but here in high school, I was asked to basically track players in our end of the field," said Knott.
That's where former teammate Tina Suto played a key role in Knott's understanding of her spot as a defensive midfielder. She gave the now-sophomore a boost in her confidence.
"Tina was one of our great senior leaders, and she would give me a lot of help and instructions during the game, not in a bossy way. It was all positive, and it really helped me get more comfortable with my position."
Knott is no stranger to the athletic department at Prospect. She hit the ground running as a freshman playing JV golf and made the no. 2 spot on the varsity this season.
Next up was basketball, a sport she began playing in advance of entering kindergarten.
"I started at the 'Y' and haven't stopped," laughed Knott, who is a point guard.
"My schedule is so crazy, but I like it that way," she said.
A key to her academic success is to start some of her homework during the school day. Then she’s off to the course, hardwood or pitch to train, or play games. When she gets home, it’s time for some dinner before finishing up the night with homework.
This three-sport student-athlete said the lessons she learned a year ago from the seniors -- work ethic, strong academics, training and playing hard -- have stayed with her.
"Being in that atmosphere last year only made me work that much harder this year in those first few weeks of the preseason," says Knott.
"It was a lot of fun to be on the varsity, and it was a great experience, but there were times that it got a little lonely for. I missed my friends who were playing either on the freshman team or with the JV."
Knott would have had the chance to welcome some of her friends to the varsity this season if not for COVID-19. But the soccer team was one way she stayed in touch with them.
"(Froats) did a good job of keeping us all connected through group chats, and with Zoom video for 45-60 minutes on Saturdays to instill hope that the season might not be over, and to keep everything all in perspective before the season was officially called off," said Knott.
Last season’s season contest with perennial state power New Trier provided Knott with one of two fond memories from 2019. Chicagoland Soccer All-Stater Ashley Welk bagged a late overtime equalizer to secure a 1-1 against the highly regarded Trevians.
"It was cold, rainy, and the wind was whipping around sideways, but just being a part of that game was exciting for me," said Knott. Her next highlight came a few weeks later.
That's when the Lady Knights used a double from Knott to overwhelm McHenry 5-0 in their home invitational.
"We didn't play very well that weekend, but I scored twice, and our other freshman, Hannah Mekky scored three, so it felt good to get a chance to show what I could do when playing as an outside midfielder that day."
This talented young player made another impression late last season on her manager, who had this to say about Knott following a wonderful performance in the Lady Knights 1-0 victory over Carmel in their Fremd Regional opener.
"Abby has been a pleasant surprise for us all season, and as you saw tonight, she can do a lot of things with and without the ball," Froats said.
"She has shown she will be a big part of our team ... ."
It's clear Knott, with her direct running, pace, and ability to create, score and direct the Prospect attack, will become a serious threat in 2021.