Tyrel Lacey
Encyclopedia
Tyrel Lacey is an American soccer goalkeeper who currently free agent.
, Oklahoma
. He played for youth club Tulsa Nationals '86 and also attended Jenks High School
.
at the University of Tulsa
for Tulsa Golden Hurricane
from 2004-2008. Making 40 starts from 2005-2008 Lacey registered a record low 0.99 goals-against average for his career at the University of Tulsa
. While also receiving All-Conference USA
First Team honors. He was also awarded numerous individual honors, as well as Top Drawer Soccer All-American Team, NSCAA/Adidas NCAA All-Midwest Region Second Team honors, as well as Defensive Player of the Year. During University Lacey also played with Colorado Rapids U23's in the USL Premier Development League
.
in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft
but opted to finish school and pursue playing overseas.
Lacey first spent time training with Coventry City but is unable to play in England before acquiring a Visa in 2012. After being on trial in Norwegian Premier League
club Lyn in July of 2009, he signed for the club. On 5 August 2009, he made his debut in a friendly match against Liverpool
, putting up an impressive performance in his professional debut. Lacey became Lyn's starting goalkeeper immediately, but missed the end of the season due to an injury. In 2010, Lacey and the rest of Lyn's squad were released when the club went bankrupt and was folded.
Personal
Lacey grew up in JenksJenks, Oklahoma
Jenks is a city in Tulsa County, Oklahoma, United States, and a suburb of Tulsa, in the northeastern part of the state. It is situated between the Arkansas River and U.S. Route 75. Jenks is one of the fastest growing cities in Oklahoma...
, Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
. He played for youth club Tulsa Nationals '86 and also attended Jenks High School
Jenks High School
Jenks High School is a secondary school located within Tulsa County in Jenks, Oklahoma. It serves students from the town of Jenks and students from the south side of the city of Tulsa...
.
College
Lacey went on to play college soccerCollege soccer
College soccer is a term used to describe association football played by teams who are operated by colleges and universities as opposed to a professional league operated for exclusively financial purposes...
at the University of Tulsa
University of Tulsa
The University of Tulsa is a private university awarding bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA. It is currently ranked 75th among doctoral degree granting universities in the nation by US News and World Report and is listed as one of the "Best 366 Colleges" by...
for Tulsa Golden Hurricane
Tulsa Golden Hurricane
Tulsa Golden Hurricane athletics programs include the extramural and intramural sports team of the University of Tulsa. These teams are referred to as the Tulsa Golden Hurricane...
from 2004-2008. Making 40 starts from 2005-2008 Lacey registered a record low 0.99 goals-against average for his career at the University of Tulsa
University of Tulsa
The University of Tulsa is a private university awarding bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA. It is currently ranked 75th among doctoral degree granting universities in the nation by US News and World Report and is listed as one of the "Best 366 Colleges" by...
. While also receiving All-Conference USA
Conference USA
Conference USA, officially abbreviated C-USA, is a college athletic conference whose member institutions are located within the Southern United States. The conference participates in the NCAA's Division I in all sports...
First Team honors. He was also awarded numerous individual honors, as well as Top Drawer Soccer All-American Team, NSCAA/Adidas NCAA All-Midwest Region Second Team honors, as well as Defensive Player of the Year. During University Lacey also played with Colorado Rapids U23's in the USL Premier Development League
USL Premier Development League
The USL Premier Development League is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid...
.
Professional
Upon graduating in 2009, Lacey was drafted by the New England RevolutionNew England Revolution
The New England Revolution is an American professional association football club based in Foxborough, Massachusetts which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft
2009 MLS SuperDraft
The 2009 MLS SuperDraft took place on January 15, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. It was the tenth annual Major League Soccer SuperDraft. The first selection was owned by the expansion Seattle Sounders FC...
but opted to finish school and pursue playing overseas.
Lacey first spent time training with Coventry City but is unable to play in England before acquiring a Visa in 2012. After being on trial in Norwegian Premier League
Norwegian Premier League
Tippeligaen is a Norwegian professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the Norwegian football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. The league is also unofficially known under its neutral name Eliteserien , although the name has never been official...
club Lyn in July of 2009, he signed for the club. On 5 August 2009, he made his debut in a friendly match against Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
, putting up an impressive performance in his professional debut. Lacey became Lyn's starting goalkeeper immediately, but missed the end of the season due to an injury. In 2010, Lacey and the rest of Lyn's squad were released when the club went bankrupt and was folded.