Topic: Roy Lassiter

Roy Lassiter (born March 9, 1969 in Washington, D.C.) is a retired American soccer striker, and Major League Soccer's record holder for goals scored in a season, with 27 in 1996.

Lassiter was born in Washington, D.C., but grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina where he attended Athens Drive High School. He was the North Carolina State 4-A Player of the Year as a senior and a high school All-American. That year, he led his high school soccer team to the state championship while scoring a state record 47 goals. He also played for a local youth club, Raleigh United, which lost to the LaJolla Nomads in the McGuire National Club Championship Cup in the 1989. Lassiter attended Lees-McRae College in 1989, was selected as a first-team, Junior-College All American. He then transferred to North Carolina State University were he was twice named first team All-ACC and second team All-American.

Lassiter was called up to the U.S. national team in January 1992. He earned his first cap as a substitute for Eric Wynalda in a 1-0 loss to the Commonwealth of Independent States which briefly succeeded the Soviet Union. However, he broke his leg in a practice collision with Bruce Murray a few days later. While convalesing, Lassiter was contacted by AD Carmelita. As Lassiter recalls it, "I have no idea how they got my name. They paid for my trip down there while still recovering from my leg injury, and I signed a contract." He played the 1993-1994 season with Carmelita before the second biggest club in Costa Rica signed him to one of the most lucritive contracts of any foreigner. LD Alajuelense. After the 1994-1995 season, Lassiter received offers from several Mexican and European clubs, but Alajuelsense offered Lassiter a $60,000 bonus to remain with the club through the 1995 season.