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Tony Cascio’s phone rang while he was at the hospital after his wife gave birth to their first child.

“I just randomly got a call on Thursday,” he said. “It was a Colorado number, I didn’t recognize it I just answered it. It was the coaching staff and they invited me to come out for a week.”

After an injury-laden career that’s taken Cascio from Colorado to Houston and now back to Colorado with some stops in between, he had felt like hanging up things as a professional player. He was ready to settle back in his native Phoenix and sell real estate. If things don’t work out, at least he only had a two-hour drive.

“I’m playing with house money at this point,” he said.

Cascio’s pro career began after being drafted out of the University of Connecticut, where he was an All-American and MAC Hermann trophy semifinalist. His first season in 2012 started well: he scored a goal against Philadelphia a week after making his first on-field appearance with the team.

Even with that, it was still tough for him to get time on the field. He was loaned to Houston in 2014. That’s when the trouble started.

“I was feeling pretty good,” he said of the move to the Dynamo. “I worked my way into a starting spot. I ended up tearing my ACL. That was my season, so not too much experience there.”

He had a move to Orlando City SC when they were promoted to MLS. Once again, health issues intervened. A bulging disc kept him out of training for six months. He didn’t make a single appearance for the club.

Still, he wanted to keep playing. He returned home and had his chance with Arizona United. He played 22 matches for the USL club. He was looking at settling in and playing soccer in his birthplace.

It didn’t work out there either, and not because of his performance on the field. He didn’t get re-signed for Arizona United (now known as Phoenix Rising) because of what Cascio calls a “miscommunication” between the club and his agent.

The familiar story could have ended there. Talented athlete suffers injuries and other setbacks. He has to give up on his dreams of a career. Cascio was gearing up to play for Phoenix’s new semi-pro team, FC Arizona, when he got the call for a second chance.

It may have been serendipity, but he was wearing one of his old Colorado warmups when the call came through.

He made the most of the second chance on Saturday. He hadn’t had a chance to train with the team, but in a half hour of time on the field, he caused havoc for the Revs defense and assisted on two goals for the Rapids. Although he’s in a familiar environment, he knows the coaches and many of the players, he still had the jitters that most trialists have.

“I exhausted myself,” Cascio admitted. “I was trying to impress the coaches. It’s different when you are on trial. When you have a contract, you are relaxed and composed.”

“Good feedback though. I came in and made a difference in the game,” he added. “That’s all you can ask for.”

Cascio is still cautious about whether or not his Tucson stint will result in a contract.

“They like me,” he said. “It’s just a matter of...I don’t even know what is going on the rest of the week and train and see what happens. I am just thankful about the opportunity. I’m excited.”

Ted Prezelski writes about all things soccer, fútbol and piłka nożna for TucsonSentinel.com and at the blog How Flair is Punished (mindingthe.net).



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