Tyrese Spicer (born 4 December 2000) is a Triniadian footballer who plays for Toronto FC in Major League Soccer.

Tyrese Spicer
Personal information
Date of birth (2000-12-04) 4 December 2000 (age 23)
Place of birth Trincity, Trinidad and Tobago
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
Toronto FC
Number 16
Youth career
Trincity Nationals
Central FC
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020–2023 Lipscomb Bisons 58 (29)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022 Tennessee SC 10 (3)
2023 Des Moines Menace 8 (1)
2024– Toronto FC 19 (2)
International career
Trinidad and Tobago U15 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 5 October 2024

Early life

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Spicer began playing youth football at age six with the Trincity Nationals, later playing with Central FC in the Youth Pro League.[1]

Spicer attended St. Mary's College in Trinidad, helping the school become North Zone Champions in 2017.[2][3] In 2019, he switched to St. Augustine Secondary School, earning SSFL All-Star honours.[4]

College career

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In 2020, Spicer was to begin attending Lipscomb University and play with the men's soccer team on an athletic scholarship.[1] However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he began attending in January 2021, and debuted in the spring 2021 season (which was delayed from the previous fall).[5] On 6 February 2021, he made his collegiate debut and also scored his first goal in a victory over the Evansville Purple Aces.[6] On 6 September 2021, Spicer scored a hat trick in a victory over Evansville, which earned him ASUN Conference Player of the Week honours.[7][8] At the end of his sophomore season, he was namedto the ASUN Conference All-Conference First Team, the All Region Second Team, was the ASUN Championship Co-MVP, and named to the ASUN All-Tournament Team, as Lipscomb won the ASUN title.[9][10][11]

Ahead of his junior season in 2022, Spicer was named the ASUN Preseason Player of the Year, named to the Preseason All-Conference Team, named a USC Player to Watch, and named #65 on the TopDrawerSoccer Top 100 List.[12][13][14] At the end of the season, after helping them to another ASUN title, he was named to the All-Conference Second Team, All-Atlantic Region First Team, a Third Team All-American, and the ASUN All-Tournament Team.[15][16][17][18]

Ahead of his senior season, Spicer was again named a USC Player to Watch, was named to the Preseason All-ASUN Team, and was named to the MAC Hermann Trophy Watchlist.[19][20][21] In September 2023, he was named the TSWA Men's Soccer Player of the Week.[22] At the end of the season, he was named the ASUN Player of the Year, was named to the All-Conference First Team, All-Region First Team, and a First Team All-American.[23][24][25]

Club career

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In 2022, Spicer played with Tennessee SC in USL League Two.[26] In 2023, he played with the Des Moines Menace.[27]

At the 2024 MLS SuperDraft, Spicer was selected first overall by Toronto FC.[28][29] He pre-signed a contract prior to the draft,[30] and his selection was announced by Toronto Maple Leafs captain John Tavares.[31] Spicer made his club debut on 16 March, in a substitute appearance against New York City FC,[32][33] and followed that up the following week on 23 March, scoring his first professional goal in his first start, in a 2–0 victory over Atlanta United FC.[34]

International career

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Spicer played two matches with the Trinidad and Tobago U15 team, recording two assists.[35] In June 2020, he attended a training camp with the Trinidad and Tobago senior team.[36]

Career statistics

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As of match played 5 October 2024[37]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Playoffs National cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Tennessee SC 2022[26] USL League Two 10 3 10 3
Des Moines Menace 2023[38] USL League Two 8 1 0 0 0 0 8 1
Toronto FC 2024 Major League Soccer 19 2 1 1 0 0 20 3
Career total 37 6 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 38 7

References

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  1. ^ a b Prescott, Ian (9 August 2020). "Spicer, Cowie win scholarships". Trinidad Express Newspapers.
  2. ^ "Judah, Jordan, Tyrese, Yohannes… Wired868 selects its 2017 SSFL All-Star team". Wired 868. 3 December 2017.
  3. ^ Salandy, Michelle (18 November 2018). "The 'Saint of Speed': One on One with St Mary's College's Tyrese Spicer". Wired 868.
  4. ^ "Jaiye, Shoaib, Tyrese, 'Hulk'… Wired868 highlights the 2019 SSFL All-Star players". Wired 868. 5 December 2019.
  5. ^ Merk, Carson A (22 September 2021). "Lipscomb's Tyrese Spicer is working hard to achieve his goals and improve as a player". Beautiful Game Network.
  6. ^ Butts, Logan (6 February 2021). "Smith, Spicer combine for three goals in dominant season-opening win for men's soccer". Lipscomb Bisons.
  7. ^ "Spicer Hat Trick Spearheads Lipscomb to 4-0 Start on the Season". Lipscomb Bisons. 6 September 2021.
  8. ^ "Spicer Named ASUN Player of the Week". Lipscomb Bisons. 7 September 2021.
  9. ^ "Noah Gulden Named Defensive Player of the Year, Six Others Land Spots on All-Conference Teams". Lipscomb Bisons. 4 November 2021.
  10. ^ "Bisons win ASUN Championship, earn NCAA Tournament bid". Lipscomb Bisons. 13 November 2021.
  11. ^ "Four Named to United Soccer Coaches All-Region Teams". Lipscomb Bisons. 7 December 2021.
  12. ^ "Bisons Tabbed First, Six Earn Preseason All-Conference Nods". Lipscomb Bisons. 10 August 2022.
  13. ^ "Gulden, Spicer, Named United Soccer Coaches National Players to Watch". Lipscomb Bisons. 16 August 2022.
  14. ^ "Spicer Earns Spot on TopDrawerSoccer Top 100 List". Lipscomb Bisons. 24 August 2022.
  15. ^ "Men's Soccer Sweeps ASUN Superlatives, Lands 11 on All-Conference Teams". Lipscomb Bisons. 4 November 2022.
  16. ^ "Five Bisons Earn All-Region Honors". Lipscomb Bisons. 6 December 2022.
  17. ^ "Gulden and Spicer Earn All-American Honors". Lipscomb Bisons. 9 December 2022.
  18. ^ "Tyrese Spicer Lipscomb profile". Lipscomb Bisons.
  19. ^ "Spicer and Wood Named National Players to Watch". Lipscomb Bisons. 15 August 2023.
  20. ^ "Five Bisons Earn Preseason Honors, Lipscomb Picked First In Coaches Poll". Lipscomb Bisons. 17 August 2023.
  21. ^ "2023 Men's MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List Announced". United Soccer Coaches. 24 August 2023.
  22. ^ "Spicer Earns TSWA Player of the Week Nod". Lipscomb Bisons. 12 September 2023.
  23. ^ "Spicer Named Player of the Year, Eight Bisons Land on All-ASUN Teams". Lipscomb Bisons. 3 November 2023.
  24. ^ "Four Bisons Earn United Soccer Coaches All-Region Honors". Lipscomb Bisons. 6 December 2023.
  25. ^ "Spicer Named First Team All-American". Lipscomb Bisons. 8 December 2023.
  26. ^ a b "Tyrese Spencer 2022 USL2 Stats". USL League Two.
  27. ^ "League Two Stars Named to United Soccer Coaches Players to Watch". USL League Two. 14 August 2023.
  28. ^ "Toronto FC select Tyrese Spicer with first overall pick in 2024 MLS Superdraft". Toronto FC. 19 December 2023.
  29. ^ Davidson, Neil (19 December 2023). "Lipscomb winger Tyrese Spicer goes first overall to Toronto FC in MLS draft". Toronto Sun.
  30. ^ Shames, Jacob (19 December 2023). "Lipscomb soccer player Tyrese Spicer goes No. 1 in MLS SuperDraft to Toronto FC". The Tennessean.
  31. ^ "Toronto FC select Tyrese Spicer from Lipscomb University with 1st overall pick in MLS SuperDraft". Waking the Red. 19 December 2023.
  32. ^ "Tyrese Spicer raves about living in Toronto, not happy with his pace rating on EA Sports FC 24". Waking the Red. 19 April 2024.
  33. ^ Davidson, Neil (18 April 2024). "Toronto FC rookie Tyrese Spicer savouring life as a pro and being in a video game". The Globe & Mail.
  34. ^ Davidson, Neil (23 March 2024). "Toronto FC defeats Atlanta 2-0 but victory could be costly with Insigne injured". CTV News.
  35. ^ Butts, Logan (6 July 2020). "Men's soccer announces 2020 signing class". Lipscomb Bisons.
  36. ^ Liburd, Lasana (8 June 2020). "Fenwick restarts national training with Griffith's blessing; but Look Loy and Ferguson slam exercise". Wired 868.
  37. ^ Tyrese Spicer at Soccerway
  38. ^ "League Standings". USL League Two.
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