Sports Then and Now

Anglea Hucles of the Boston Breakers in game last season against St. Louis Athletica.

Angela  Hucles, a Boston Breakers veteran and 2008 Olympic hero, has announced her retirement from professional soccer.

Hucles will not travel with the U.S. National Team for its match against Germany on October 29 and she will not return for the second season of Women’s Professional Soccer after playing with the Breakers in 2009.

“I always wanted to involve myself in things I was passionate about and give 110 percent,” said Hucles. “I feel like I’ve come to a point where I no longer can give that much and I know that there are other players who are ready to step up to the plate in order to bring the World Cup trophy back to the U.S. and carry on the growth of professional women’s soccer in the United States as well.”

The 31-year-old Hucles has been a Breakers icon since the start of Women’s United Soccer Association (WUSA).  In 2001, Hucles was chosen in the 12th round (93rd pick overall) by Boston in the WUSA inaugural draft.  She played in all 21 games, starting 19 in the Breakers’ first year and posted two goals for the season, including the first goal in team history.

Highlighting her WUSA career was the 2003 season, where she started all 17 games, and had one goal and four assists to help the Breakers achieve their first appearance in the WUSA playoffs.  Hucles earned All-WUSA second-team accolades as a result of her play in the final season of WUSA.

Hucles continued to call Boston home after the end of the WUSA in 2003.  The 31-year-old returned as a Breaker for the inaugural Women’s Professional Soccer season.  Hucles was allocated to the Breakers via the United States Women’s National Team allocation on September 16, 2008.  The Breakers’ veteran started and played in 19 games, scoring two goals and notching one assist in 2009.

“Angela has been a great contributor to the Boston Breakers and the Boston soccer community for years, dating back to the WUSA and continuing through the start-up and first year of the WPS,” said Owner and Managing Partner Michael Stoller.  “Her presence on the field will be missed, but we are very hopeful that Angela will be a long term contributor off the field to the Breakers and youth soccer in New England for years to come.”

Hucles’ international experience began with the U-20 national team in 1997, but her successful run on the field for the Breakers from 2001-03, helped her jump into the national team picture.  She received her first cap with the U.S. Women’s National Team against Finland in 2002, and scored her first international goal against Costa Rica on November 6, 2002.  After a stellar WUSA season in 2003, she captured a regular spot on the National Team, starting six of the 15 games in which she played that year.

The Virginia Beach native was a member of the 2004 Olympic team, capturing her first Gold Medal in Athens and a member of the 2007 World Cup squad.  Hucles’ greatest international accomplishments, however, were made at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, starting every match and leading the team in goals with four.  Hucles became the 24th American to earn 100 international caps, reaching the milestone against Korea Republic on Nov. 8, 2008.  Hucles will finish her career earning 109 caps for the USA and scoring 14 international goals.

Hucles attended the University of Virginia where she played for former U.S. National Team coach April Heinrichs.  During her time at Virginia, Hucles was a four-time First-Team All-ACC selection, Four-time Mid-Atlantic All-Star, and was a finalist for the Hermann Trophy in 1999. She still holds Cavalier records as the school’s all-time leader in goals (59), points (138) and game-winning goals (19).

“Thank you to everyone for allowing me the opportunity to reach and achieve my dreams and goals through playing a game,” said Hucles.

The previous story was excerpted from a press release by the Boston Breakers by Todd Civin. Civin is a freelance writer for Sports Then and Now and a feature correspondent for the Boston Breakers of the WPS. Civin’s work can be found on Bleacher Report and Seamheads, as well.