There's no doubt that
Kacey Lawrence is a big-time scorer.
She tallied a career-high 28 goals this past season as a junior on the
Masuk (Monroe, Conn.) girls soccer team, netting goals in 14 of the 19 games she played in.
But it's Lawrence's 15 assists that really make her happy. She does everything she can to incorporate her teammates into a game. However, when a game is on the line, Lawrence isn't afraid to take over.
"My teammates know when I'm serious I want the ball immediately, they'll give it to me," said Lawrence, who plays forward. "They know I'm calling for it loudly or really aggressive with it. OK, we've got to give her the ball, she's going to do something here. They really understand it, which is great. I just go and do my thing."
Lawrence has proved in her three years as a varsity starter – racking up 70 goals and 43 assists – that she's one of the top soccer players in the country. She has been recognized accordingly.
Lawrence was one of 150 high school juniors named as Allstate All-Americans in December and will be considered for participation in the Allstate All-America Cup this summer in Orlando.
Former Major League Soccer and U.S. men's national team members Taylor Twellman and Brian McBride will join the likes of former U.S. women's national soccer team standouts and Olympic gold medalists Julie Foudy and Brandi Chastain to coach and mentor these promising high school players at the event.
Receiving Allstate All-American status is a special achievement for Lawrence.
"To be considered for it first is awesome, I love that so much," Lawrence said. "It's my teammates around me, my coaches that have really helped me out there. It's not an individual thing. They've really helped me out to get there and I love it each time. It's a great honor to get."
Lawrence's soccer awards are starting to pile up but she just takes it all in stride.
"She's one of those humble players off the field," Masuk girls soccer coach Jay Golesky said. "You talk to her and she's just down to Earth, great student-athlete. Then you get her on the field, as a coach you love to have her on the team and you hate to play against her.
"She puts the fear of God in everybody she plays against."
Kacey Lawrence in action last fall against Kolbe-Cathedral.
Photo by: Shelley Burger
Golesky said his star player is physical, fast, creative and hard working.
"I think the best part of my game is my drive," Lawrence said. "As soon as I get the ball, I just go. I know immediately where I want to go and I just work hard to get there and get a goal."
The 17-year-old has worked hard to get where she's at. Diligently practicing and crafting her game is how Lawrence has become such a polished goal scorer.
"I always have my friends who are goalies, we always go down to the field to practice a lot," Lawrence said. "For a forward, that's one of the most important things, the last touch, finishing."
Because Lawrence is so explosive around the net it's not uncommon for opponents to man-mark her. She's also used to getting double-teamed, especially in important games and rivalry games. But Lawrence doesn't find it a problem to split defenders.
"It makes me want to look for balls in the gaps more," Lawrence said. "What I like to do is run around a lot, too, it gets girls tired and they get subbed out."
Lawrence, who committed to the University of Michigan in May 2017, knows there's a respect factor when she gets doubled by teams.
"It's an honor," Lawrence said. "Whenever I have two on me, coach is like, ‘Who's on her? Who's on her?' I'm like, ‘Wow. That's me.'"
Lawrence is currently in the midst of her club season, playing for the Connecticut Football Club. Once that wraps up in June, she will prepare for her senior season at Masuk. After working on being more physical last offseason, Lawrence wants to become better at using her left foot to help create plays and rip shots on goal.
Lawrence will also spend time this summer sharing her love for the game with young players.
"She does a lot of volunteer work for a lot of soccer programs, so she wants to be that leader for the young girls in town," Golesky said. "She's constantly volunteering, whether it's AYSO, NSC, which is the travel program in our town. She volunteers for a couple camps for the summertime works with kids. She loves the game and that passion she has for the game kind of just oozes out and she's just somebody you want to be around."
