Angela Hucles
Encyclopedia
Angela Khalia Hucles is a former American
soccer midfielder
and member of the United States women's national soccer team
.
in 1996, where she played for Kevin Sims while earning Parade All-American status. She played college soccer at the University of Virginia
, where she was a four-year all-ACC player and tallied 59 goals, including a record 19 game-winners. Hucles is still Virginia's career women's leader in goals, game-winning goals, and total points.
of the W-League
. She led the league in assists with 7, playing in 14 games and scoring 6 goals.
Hucles was then drafted in the 2001 WUSA Inaugural Draft in the 12th round (93rd overall) by Boston Breakers
of the newly formed Women's United Soccer Association
. She went on to make 57 total appearances for the club, scoring 6 goals. She scored the first goal in the history of the organization on 6 March 2001 in a preseason exhibition against Duke Blue Devils
. In her first season, Hucles appeared in 21 games, starting 19 of them, and finished with two goals and no assists. 2002 saw Hucles appear in 19 games, starting 17, and finished with three goals and four assists. In 2003, Hucles appeared in 17 games, all starts, and scored one goal and assisted on 4 more. Unfortunately, after the 2003 season the WUSA ceased operations.
Hucles returned to a club in 2005 when she turned out for Boston Renegades
. She only appeared in 5 games in 2005, but notched 3 goals and an assist. In 2006, Hucles had a much more productive season, appearing in 11 games and tallying 10 goals and two assists.
In 2008, Women's Professional Soccer
established itself. Hucles, along with US National Team
players Kristine Lilly
and Heather Mitts
, were allocated to Boston Breakers on 16 September 2006. The league kicked off in 2009, which saw Hucles appear in 19 games, all starts, and score two goals and an assist. Following the conclusion of the season, on 16 October 2009, Hucles abruptly announced her retirement from both club and international soccer.
, Hucles won 2 Olympic Gold medals and 2 World Cups.
Hucles made her first appearance for the United States on 27 April 2002 against Finland
. She went on to appear in 109 total matches for the United States, with the last coming on 22 July 2009 against Canada
.
She was a member of the U.S. squad at the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup, but did not play in the tournament due to a shin injury. She was a member of the Gold medal winning United States team for the 2004 Summer Olympics
, appearing in two games in Athens
, and was also a member of the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup squad. However, her biggest role with the United States came in the 2008 Summer Olympics
in Beijing
. Hucles was expected to play a backup role with the squad, but an injury to Abby Wambach
forced Hucles into a starting position. She responded by scoring four goals, including two against Japan
in the semi-finals. Her efforts helped the United States to the Gold medal and she finished 2nd in goals scored to only Cristiane
.
Her retirement came on 16 October 2009, when she announced her retirement from both club and international soccer.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soccer midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
and member of the United States women's national soccer team
United States women's national soccer team
The United States women's national soccer team represents the United States in international soccer competition and is controlled by U.S. Soccer. The U.S. team won the first ever Women's World Cup in 1991, and has since been a superpower in women's soccer. It is currently ranked first in the world...
.
Early life
Hucles (204 goals & 106 assists) graduated from Norfolk AcademyNorfolk Academy
Norfolk Academy is an independent co-educational day school in Norfolk, Virginia. Chartered in 1728, it is the oldest secondary school in Virginia and the eighth oldest in the United States...
in 1996, where she played for Kevin Sims while earning Parade All-American status. She played college soccer at the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
, where she was a four-year all-ACC player and tallied 59 goals, including a record 19 game-winners. Hucles is still Virginia's career women's leader in goals, game-winning goals, and total points.
Club career
After graduating from Virginia in 2000, Hucles played for Hampton Roads PiranhasHampton Roads Piranhas
Hampton Roads Piranhas is an American women’s soccer team, founded in 1995. The team is a member of the United Soccer Leagues W-League, the second tier of women’s soccer in the United States and Canada...
of the W-League
W-League
The USL W-League is a national women's soccer league in the United States on the 2nd level of women's soccer in the United States soccer pyramid, alongside the Women's Premier Soccer League and below Women's Professional Soccer....
. She led the league in assists with 7, playing in 14 games and scoring 6 goals.
Hucles was then drafted in the 2001 WUSA Inaugural Draft in the 12th round (93rd overall) by Boston Breakers
Boston Breakers (WUSA)
The Boston Breakers were a professional soccer team that played in the Women's United Soccer Association. The team played at Nickerson Field on the campus of Boston University in Boston, Massachusetts. The team held a "name the team" contest that Laura DeDonato of Easton Massachusetts won with the...
of the newly formed Women's United Soccer Association
Women's United Soccer Association
The Women's United Soccer Association, often abbreviated to the WUSA, was the world's first women's soccer league in which all the players were paid as professionals. Founded in February 2000, the league began its first season in April 2001 with eight teams in the United States...
. She went on to make 57 total appearances for the club, scoring 6 goals. She scored the first goal in the history of the organization on 6 March 2001 in a preseason exhibition against Duke Blue Devils
Duke Blue Devils
Duke University's 26 varsity sports teams, known as the Blue Devils, compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The name comes from the French "les Diables Bleus" or "the Blue Devils," which was the nickname given during World War I to the Chasseurs Alpins, the French Alpine light infantry...
. In her first season, Hucles appeared in 21 games, starting 19 of them, and finished with two goals and no assists. 2002 saw Hucles appear in 19 games, starting 17, and finished with three goals and four assists. In 2003, Hucles appeared in 17 games, all starts, and scored one goal and assisted on 4 more. Unfortunately, after the 2003 season the WUSA ceased operations.
Hucles returned to a club in 2005 when she turned out for Boston Renegades
Boston Renegades
Boston Renegades was an American women’s soccer team, founded in 2003. The team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues W-League, the second tier of women’s soccer in the United States and Canada. The team plays in the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference...
. She only appeared in 5 games in 2005, but notched 3 goals and an assist. In 2006, Hucles had a much more productive season, appearing in 11 games and tallying 10 goals and two assists.
In 2008, Women's Professional Soccer
Women's Professional Soccer
Women's Professional Soccer is the top level professional women's soccer league in the United States. It began play on March 29, 2009. The league was composed of seven teams for its first two seasons and fielded 6 teams for the 2011 season, with continued plans for future expansion...
established itself. Hucles, along with US National Team
United States women's national soccer team
The United States women's national soccer team represents the United States in international soccer competition and is controlled by U.S. Soccer. The U.S. team won the first ever Women's World Cup in 1991, and has since been a superpower in women's soccer. It is currently ranked first in the world...
players Kristine Lilly
Kristine Lilly
Kristine Marie Lilly Heavey is a retired American soccer player who last played for Boston Breakers of Women's Professional Soccer and was a member of the United States women's national soccer team for 24 years...
and Heather Mitts
Heather Mitts
Heather Blaine Mitts Feeley is an American professional soccer player who is a defender in the Women's Professional Soccer league. Mitts played college soccer for the University of Florida, and thereafter, she has played professionally for the Philadelphia Charge, Boston Breakers, Philadelphia...
, were allocated to Boston Breakers on 16 September 2006. The league kicked off in 2009, which saw Hucles appear in 19 games, all starts, and score two goals and an assist. Following the conclusion of the season, on 16 October 2009, Hucles abruptly announced her retirement from both club and international soccer.
International career
With the United States Women's National TeamUnited States women's national soccer team
The United States women's national soccer team represents the United States in international soccer competition and is controlled by U.S. Soccer. The U.S. team won the first ever Women's World Cup in 1991, and has since been a superpower in women's soccer. It is currently ranked first in the world...
, Hucles won 2 Olympic Gold medals and 2 World Cups.
Hucles made her first appearance for the United States on 27 April 2002 against Finland
Finland women's national football team
The Finland women's national football team represents Finland in international women's football. The team, controlled by the Football Association of Finland , reached the semi-finals of the 2005 European Championship, surprising the female football world having drawn with Sweden and beaten Denmark...
. She went on to appear in 109 total matches for the United States, with the last coming on 22 July 2009 against Canada
Canada women's national soccer team
The Canada women's national soccer team is overseen by the Canadian Soccer Association. The team reached its all-time high of 6th in the March 2011 rankings. The team reached international prominence finishing in 4th place at the FIFA Women's World Cup 2003, losing to their archrival American team...
.
She was a member of the U.S. squad at the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup, but did not play in the tournament due to a shin injury. She was a member of the Gold medal winning United States team for the 2004 Summer Olympics
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
, appearing in two games in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, and was also a member of the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup squad. However, her biggest role with the United States came in the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
. Hucles was expected to play a backup role with the squad, but an injury to Abby Wambach
Abby Wambach
Mary Abigail "Abby" Wambach is an American professional soccer player, coach and Olympic gold medalist. A four-time winner of the U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year award, she has been a regular on the U.S. women's national team since 2003...
forced Hucles into a starting position. She responded by scoring four goals, including two against Japan
Japan women's national football team
The Japan women's national football team, or Nadeshiko Japan , is a selection of the best female players in Japan and is run by the Japan Football Association . Japan defeated the U.S...
in the semi-finals. Her efforts helped the United States to the Gold medal and she finished 2nd in goals scored to only Cristiane
Cristiane Rozeira de Souza Silva
Cristiane Rozeira de Souza Silva , better known as Cristiane, is a Brazilian association football player...
.
Her retirement came on 16 October 2009, when she announced her retirement from both club and international soccer.