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M D I I ON A T B O H O R CE P N I R S E I L T S
R LAYOUT 7 12.01.16
buckets of money to play while Ameri-
cans sat. T F A ww.colangelo-sm.com
In 2014, Smith played for the Tren- S SourlandGin_702.ai
ton Rebels in the National Capital Soc- I R
cer League and quickly was promoted S F
to the ASL’s Delaware Stars, where he ’ Y COME
was teamed with Nuel for the 2015-16 E S
season. R
Nuel played Division I soccer at the W J E
University of Delaware. He graduated in E
2015 and immediately afterward went to N VISIT
play for a third-division team in Bulgaria.
Visa issues prompted his return home
after four months. He joined the Stars,
but the franchise folded shortly after he
and Smith arrived. US
Nuel then played for the Ocean City
Nor’easters of the USL’s Premiere
Development League for the summer of
2016. In August, he was contacted by the
Fury, who had seen him play for Dela-
Since graduating from Steinert ware, and Nuel joined Philadelphia for
High School, Dylan Smith played the fall season. He then suggested the
soccer in Argentina, at Mercer club pick up Smith. HOPEWELL, NJ
County Community College, at “I know what Dylan’s capable of; I Distillery tours are
Rowan University and in the North trained with him a few times with the available every weekend.
American Soccer League. He hopes Rebels,” Nuel said. “I’ve gotten to know
to one day make a MLS squad. his dad from teaching with him (at the ™ Learn our process.
Bob Smith Soccer Academy). I built a
better relationship with Dylan from that, Taste our spirits.
Bobby Smith’s kid,” Smith said. “They so they brought him here.”
thought I was a punk or a knucklehead The two are preparing for the Fury’s HANDCR AFTED Register online.
NE W JERSE Y ’S
or whatever.” fall season, but their ultimate goal is to F IR S T FA R M D IS T IL L E RY
Nuel, who did not know Smith well in move onward and upward. The next step SINCE PROHIBITION ™ www.SourlandSpirits.com
high school, thinks Smith’s reputation up would be the NASL or USL, with the
SOURLANDOURLAND
was undeserved. Although he remem- ultimate in America being to play for a
bers that the two had a little confronta- club in Major League Soccer. If that S
tion in the game they played against one doesn’t happen, there are numerous
Nuel said with a laugh. “But he wasn’t seas,” Nuel said. “I just see more oppor- MOUNTAINMOUNTAIN
options playing for foreign teams.
another.
“He was kind of a (smack) talker,”
“My main goal is to get back over-
GLUTEN-FREE
really a punk. Talking (smack) is just tunity over there for my type of play. 90 PROOF | 45% ALC/VOL | 750 ML
part of the game. Dylan’s a really intelli- I think it went well when I was in Bul-
gent player and always has been. I think garia. For the most part. I like the cul-
at that time he probably saw himself as ture, I like to be challenged a little bit in
more intelligent than everyone else in terms of living and lifestyle. It’s a great
terms of his soccer mindset, and that experience.”
incited him to try and get away with a Smith has the same outlook, saying
little more.” he would love to go back overseas after a
Smith knew his lapse in academics great experience in Argentina. But if the
made it harder on himself, but it hardly MLS came calling, he would jump at the
slowed him. After high school he went chance.
to Argentina and played for a third divi- One advantage Smith could have is
sion professional club for six months. It connections through his dad. But he
suddenly hit him that he should be play- refuses to go that route. The last thing
ing in college and he returned to play for he wants to hear is, “Yeah, he’s only
Mercer County Community College. there because of his father.” (609) 333-8575
From there he went to Rowan and was “I’ve never wanted to make it some-
named Division III All-American. Dur- where because of somebody else,” Smith
ing that time he worked on cultivating a said. “I’ll do it on my own or I won’t do it Find Us On Facebook
more positive image. on my own. I’m not going to ask for help. & Follow us at
“I was always locked into soccer, and I’ve seen other people do that in other
always took the game very seriously,” sports throughout the years, and I don’t @SourlandSpirits
he said. “And I think I’ve matured off the see anything positive coming from that.
field a lot.” So, I’m gonna do it on my own. I’m just 130 Hopewell-Rocky
After graduating from Rowan in 2013, fighting through the ranks here of the Hill Road
he attended an MLS combine in Braden- U.S. soccer leagues, trying to climb the
ton, Fla., and was selected by the Fort ladder.” Hopewell, NJ 08525
Lauderdale Strikers of the North Ameri- At ages 27 and 24, Smith and Nuel are
can Soccer League and Harrisburg City each happy with where they are at in
of the United Soccer League. He opted their careers.
for Fort Lauderdale but quickly became “It is progressing steadily, it’s not
disillusioned when he was housed in an like it’s up and down,” Smith said. “I’ve
apartment with five Ecuadorian play- constantly been taking strides in right
ers who were much older and spoke no direction. I work and teach kids at my
English. dad’s academy, that allows me to train
“It just wasn’t working out,” he said. in Philly. I get paid to play. Right now it’s
Smith went to Harrisburg, but got pretty good money. I’m enjoying what
there too late in the season to earn I’m doing.”
playing time. He left of his own accord And both will keep striving to enjoy it
after watching foreign players receiving at higher levels.
August 2017 | Hamilton Post31