THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 24, 1996 TAG: 9610240578
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY REA FARMER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 68 lines
There were stars in Julia Salasky's eyes as she watched the return of home-grown soccer phenom Angela Hucles Wednesday during the University of Virginia's 3-0 win over Old Dominion.
``She is amazing,'' Salasky said. ``She has really great skills. She's good at every aspect of the game.''
The 14-year-old Salasky shared the field with the former Norfolk Academy sensation in two games last year. She was in awe watching Hucles attempt to tie a Virginia scoring record in her first season of collegiate play.
So were many of the onlookers. Hucles is an tremendous college success story. She missed the first three games of the season with a stress fracture in her back before making the Cavaliers' first road trip to Florida.
She's returned to Norfolk with 12 goals, just one shy of the Virginia women's soccer career scoring record.
``She was in such pain that she couldn't walk out of the stadium,'' Janis Sanchez, Hucles' mother, said of the back injury. ``She didn't even think she would make the travel team . . . We were dealing with the fact that she would not even play at all, then she started, then she started scoring goals. We feel grateful that she's on a team that's so supportive.''
In front of her parents and former teammates, Hucles tied the school record. But it wasn't the goal she was looking for - Hucles' apparent pass bounced off a defender and into the net. Not her typical smashing shot.
``It's not quite as satisfying,'' Hucles said. ``I was hoping to score a goal that I finished and put in.''
Hucles made opportunities for herself throughout the game, demonstrating trademark moves defenders failed to follow.
She floated effortlessly across the box, turned on a dime in half a second and ignited. She emerged from a cluster of players and powered a shot that sailed just high.
She was quick and deadly, always finding the open spot and consistently evading the defense.
Though disappointed she didn't grab the record outright, Hucles admitted she was anxious trying for it in front of the home crowd.
``There's so many people out here supporting me,'' she said. ``I wasn't satisfied with the way I played. I don't think I got enough touches, I missed a couple of opportunities.''
She was the probably the only one less than thrilled with the performance.
Teammate Jennifer Keefe pointed out that Hucles' scoring prowess has earned her fans within her own team.
``She's a great player,'' Keefe said. ``She has totally turned on the offense for us and is racking up the goals. She's a great person off the field and is a lot of fun. She is very respected.''
Hucles and her parents appear pleasantly surprised by her instant success, but not by her realizing her potential as an offensive threat.
``I knew she had the capability,'' Michael Hucles, Angela's father, said. ``We've watched a number of colleges, she's played a number of colleges (as a national team player). I knew she could play at this level, but it is somewhat surprising to see her advance so quickly.''
Her former teammates, however, just think Hucles is doing what she does best - being the best.
``She makes it look really, really easy even though it's not,'' Salasky said. ``Even though she's so good, it doesn't go to her head. My goal is to be just like Angela Hucles.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
MIKE HEFFNER/The Virginian-Pilot
U.Va. freshman Angela Hucles, right, heads the ball over ODU's
Michelle Kubicek during the Cavaliers' 3-0 win Wednesday. by CNB