USL Feature
Friday, May 13, 2011
By NICHOLAS MURRAY
It’s hard being the next big thing.
That was the Harrisburg City Islanders’ Jose Angulo in 2007. The precocious talent was considered a can’t-miss prospect when he was tearing up the game for St. Benedict’s Prep in New Jersey, the former school of U.S. National Team legends Tab Ramos and Claudio Reyna, so it was no surprise when the Parade High School All-American decided to forgo college soccer and turn pro straight out of high school.
Trials with Hannover 96 in Germany and Lazio in Italy followed, as did training spells with Major League Soccer’s Columbus Crew and New England Revolution. But just as things appeared set for Angulo’s pro career to get going after signing with the Revolution in 2009, a torn meniscus limited his action and saw his release in preseason.
But despite all of this, Angulo has no regrets on his decision.
“Looking back at the time, I think it was the right time for me,” Angulo said by phone this week. “There were some unfortunate events that occurred right after that that slowed down the process, but looking back I’d definitely do it again. Getting to go overseas on trials and coming back and being with two MLS teams, it’s been a good experience.”
After another preseason tryout, this time with the Philadelphia Union, Angulo joined the Central Jersey Spartans and his revival began. On a team that also included 2011 MLS SuperDraft selections Bryan Meredith and Ryan Kinne, Angulo scored 10 goals in 11 games for the Spartans, re-establishing his credentials.
With the Union continuing to keep tabs on Angulo, he arrived at the open tryouts hosted by the Union and City Islanders in December looking to break back into the pro ranks. But at first glance, City Islanders coach Bill Becher wasn’t initially going to bring the 23-year-old back for a second look. That only changed when the Union’s Rick Jacobs, Angulo’s high school coach, asked Becher to take a second look.
“We brought him in on some Monday nights with some of our guys and he did pretty well,” Becher said, “so we invited him into training camp and he did well. He scored probably four goals in the preseason and really grew on us. Anytime you find a guy who can score goals, he’s always good to have around.”
And now, Angulo is making the most of his opportunity. After opening the season on the bench, an injury to Jason Herrick opened the door for a place in the starting lineup and Angulo immediately responded with goals in his first two starts.
“It’s funny what you can do with opportunity,” Becher said. “He was here ready to go the first game, he didn’t start, he was behind a guy and that player picked up an injury, so he started in New York and scored and got the start again last game and scored again, so he’s taken advantage of the situation and right now he’s the only guy scoring goals, we’ve got to keep him in the lineup.”
Angulo has also been reunited with his St. Benedict’s Prep teammate Nelson Becerra, who provided the assist for his game-winner against the Rochester Rhinos in the club’s home opener. Now he is hoping to take this opportunity to rejoin some of his contemporaries like fellow 2007 All-Americans Brek Shea, Sheanon Williams and Zac MacMath in Major League Soccer.
“I feel like every week I’m improving, so it’s been good so far,” Angulo said of his experience in Harrisburg. “I just hope I can keep scoring and help the team out. Hopefully we can go far, we have a good team, we just need to keep the momentum going and hopefully I can contribute up front.”
It’s been a long way back for a former can’t-miss, but Angulo certainly seems to be back on the right path.
“I feel like I’m slowly getting there, slowly getting back to my form and it’s exciting to finally feel like I can hang with the pros again,” he said. “I’m very excited for the future.”