Los Angeles, Calif. (March 27, 2013) - The Pali Blues are proud to announce the addition of former US Women’s National Team midfielder, Angela Hucles, to the organization as the team’s assistant coach. The two-time gold-medalist will bring a wealth of experience at the club and international levels that will prove to be valuable in coaching a young Pali Blues team this year.
“Angela and I have always talked about working together and I could not be happier that we will finally actually do it,” said Pali Blues head coach Charlie Naimo. “She has so much experience as a collegiate All-American, professional, and on the international level. I cannot think of a better role model for our players. Just one more exciting piece to what we are doing this season.”
Hucles, from Virginia Beach, Va., spent her college years close to home as a Cavalier at the University of Virginia from 1996-1999. A four-time First-Team All-ACC selection, she ended her career as the all-time leading goal scorer in program history with 59 goals in addition to 138 points, also a program best. In her final year at Virginia, Hucles was a finalist for the Hermann trophy, which rewards the top collegiate male and female soccer players.
After college, Hucles went on to play for the Hampton Road Piranhas where she lead the W-League in assists (seven), and scored six goals. Following the stint at Hampton Road, Hucles was drafted by the Boston Breakers for the inaugural season of the WUSA, the first women’s professional soccer league in the US. She remained with the Breakers through the end of the league’s existence and accumulated six goals and eight assists.
Hucles earned her first cap for the US Women’s National Team on April 27, 2002, and scored her first goal for the team later that year on November 6th against Costa Rica. She earned her spot on the team in 2003, and was named to the World Cup roster, did not play due to injury.
The following year, Hucles made the Olympic team and helped the USA to a gold medal in Athens, Greece. The gold-medalist was named to the 2007 World Cup team, but did not see any action in any of the game. She followed up that year with a surprising performance in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Stepping up as a replacement forward to an injured Abby Wambach, Hucles lead the team with four goals in the tournament scoring in group play against New Zealand, against Canada in the quarter-finals, and twice against Japan in the semi-finals. The USA went on to defeat Brazil in the gold medal match.
In December 2008, Hucles was allocated to the Boston Breakers for the first season of Women’s Professional Soccer, which kicked off in April 2009. Hucles saw action in 19 games scoring two goals and assisting one.
On October 16, 2009, Hucles announced her retirement from international and club soccer.
Hucles expressed her thoughts on becoming the new assistant coach for the Pali Blues.
“I’m excited to join the Pali Blues staff this season with what looks to be a great team,” she said. “My experience with the game over the last twenty plus years will be helpful in not only the technical and tactical aspects of the game, but also hopefully relating to the players and helping them work towards their goals and greatest potential.
“I’m also excited to work with Charlie after knowing him for many years both in the USL and former professional leagues,” she said. “It will be a lot of fun.”
