Jacqueline Tyrer hasn’t even started Grade 12 at McRoberts and she already has a jump on her university soccer career.
The 17-year-old defender made the early commitment to UBC and suited up in a recent friendly against the TSS Rovers. She will be heading to the Point Grey campus next month to participate in pre-season training sessions.
“You like to commit to a school early so you go into Grade 12 not stressing about which school you want to go to,” explained Tyrer who is working this week as an instructor at Mike Quinn’s summer soccer school. “I also went to a charity event last week and just starting to do more things with them.”
With the structure of rep youth soccer — namely the B.C. Premier Soccer League — Tyrer hasn’t played in her hometown since the U13 level.
She initially took her promising career to South Surrey where she played for Coastal FC’s 2000 age group. When that team folded, Tyrer headed further east to Cloverdale-based Surrey United.
She eventually dropped down to her own age group where she has bonded with the 2001 squad that has enjoyed a breakthrough season.
United went unbeaten in league play then captured the U17 B.C. Premier Provincial Cup with a 3-1 win over Coastal F.C. back in June. Tyrer had a leading role in the victory, earning player-of-the-game honours.
Surrey will now represent B.C. at the Soccer Canada Toyota National Championships in early October. That tournament happens to take place in South Surrey and Coastal will also be participating.
Normally, our games are toe-to-toe with that team,” said Tyrer. “Both our league games ended 0-0 so they have been really tight. Finally we broke through.”
Tyrer is not only United’s starting centre back but their dead ball specialist as well. Two of her corner kicks in the cup final resulted in goals.
“During practice that week my corners were not good at all, to be honest,” laughed Tyrer. “Then I took three right before the game and they were not good again. My coach just told me just to take them anyways.
“I have practiced (free kicks) a lot. Just going to the field and kicking the ball with my friends.”
She has played a wide range of positions in her career, starting as an attacking player then moving to fullback before finding a home in the centre of the park.
She played forward during the high school season with McRoberts.
Her versatility will come in handy at UBC where there is no guarantee she will be a central defender.
“When you play centre back you don’t dribble a lot,” she added. “I’m just always trying to improve on things I usually don’t do.”