FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Diego Fagundez and Scott Caldwell have long been consistent contributors for their hometown club, while Zach Herivaux continues to emerge under the leadership of head coach Brad Friedel. Now there’s another New England Revolution Academy product who could be preparing to make his breakthrough with the first team.
Isaac Angking, the Revolution’s fourth Homegrown signing and their first-ever from the state of Rhode Island, has been sidelined since preseason while recovering from a non-soccer-related medical emergency, but the 18-year-old is making steady progress in that recovery.
Limited to gym workouts in recent months Angking has returned to the training field, where he’s been working on fitness and agility with the Revolution’s athletic training staff. Should that progression continue on the expected track, Angking could be back in full training in the near future.
“It’s good to see him out of the building, because he’s starting to become a little bit of a pain,” Friedel said with a laugh as Angking worked out on Tuesday morning. “I think he’s going a little stir crazy.
“He’s starting to move a little bit. Hopefully he has no reaction to anything, and if he doesn’t, hopefully we’ll see him join the group fairly soon.”
Angking spent four-plus years in the Revolution Academy, capped by a 2017 season in which he scored 12 goals in 11 appearances with the Under-19s before signing with the first team. He also spent three consecutive semesters in residency with the U.S. Under-17 team beginning in the spring of 2016.
An attack-minded midfielder, Angking made three preseason appearances for the Revs before being sidelined, impressing in 135 minutes on the field against professional opposition. As he returns to full health this summer, Angking will add yet another dimension to the Revolution’s already varied attack.
“That’ll be like a new signing to us,” said Friedel. “We’re expecting big things from him to come in as an 18-year-old from the Academy, with the talent that he has.
“Due to some unfortunate circumstances he’s not been with us so far, but we hope to see him back soon.”
