Boise teen always had speed. Her skills helped earn a state soccer title, scholarship
It’s been an eventful seven days for Asia Lawyer.
The Centennial High junior and two-sport athlete raced against the fastest high school girls in last week’s 5A state track meet at Dona Larsen Park. She finished second in the 100-meter race and eighth in the 200 meters.
But her speed has taken her even further in another sport. David Lawyer, Asia’s father, announced Wednesday via Twitter that she has committed to the Boise State women’s soccer team and will join the Broncos in 2023.
“She’s an amazing student-athlete who works hard in the classroom and on the field or track, and it’s wonderful for her to get to realize that,” David Lawyer said. “That hard work really does pay off.”
Boise State is more than familiar with the family. David Lawyer won three Big Sky track championships as a Bronco, while Asia’s uncle, Kerry, still owns the school’s 100-meter record.
Two-sport athletes also run in the family. Asia’s aunt, Dr. Tracye Lawyer, who works at St. Luke’s, competed in both soccer and track at Stanford. She won 1998 Pac-10 Co-Player of the Year in soccer and won an NCAA heptathlon title in 1999 before competing in two Olympic trials.
“It means a lot to finally commit somewhere,” Asia told the Idaho Statesman. “I am happy about my decision, not only for myself but for the people who have helped me come this far. Playing soccer now as a committed player I feel a sigh of relief and new excitement for the future.”
On Memorial Day weekend, the U-17 Boise Thorns - Elite forward shifted gears from celebration to motivation for another Idaho Youth Soccer State Cup at Boise’s Simplot Sports Complex.
“Being on (a) team with amazing players has been very fun,” said Asia, who always has had the speed, but has used club soccer to improve the rest of her skills. “It has caused me to push myself so I can help my team win games. I wouldn’t be the player I am today without them.”
Thorns coach Max Weber, a Boise State assistant, has “helped me realize my true ability as a soccer player and he is who has pushed me a lot over these last couple years. He is hard on me but it has pushed me to be a better player, so I’m excited to be coached by him in the future,” Asia said.
That push has paid off. Asia and the Thorns blew by their group stage games on Friday and Saturday before dismantling Boise Thorns - Red 12-0 in the semifinals Sunday.
The run continued Monday with a 2-1 overtime victory over the 05 Girls Inferno Copa in the state championship game. Asia provided an assist in the win.
“Asia has always been naturally fast,” David Lawyer explained. “And when she was younger she leaned on that speed to give her an advantage over other players. And although being fast on the field is a definite plus, her mother and I always told her that it would take more to be competitive at the higher levels.
“So she worked hard on her technical skills. It’s almost a necessary thing, in this day and age in competitive youth sports, no matter what sport, to train just a little more if you’re serious about competing at the club or collegiate level. So that’s what she did.”
The state championship sends Asia back to the U.S. Youth Soccer Far West Regional Championships, to be held June 20-26 at the Simplot Sports Complex, for a shot at redemption. The Thorns fell just short in the regional title game a year ago, losing 2-1 to La Rocas (Utah) in the U-16 age group.
The U-19 Nova-Nationals girls team of 2015 remains the only Idaho club team with a Far West championship. Before Asia Lawyer begins her senior year at Centennial and embarks on a college career, she’ll try to change that.
“A lot of these local youth players have grown up attending some of the BSU women’s games,” David Lawyer said. “Asia included. So for her to have once been that little girl in the stands and now will one day be out there playing in front of other aspiring young players is just a wonderful story.”
STATE CUP CHANGES
Monday marked the final day of the State Cup tournament as many know it.
Starting next year, the state championships will move to a multi-weekend format. And teams will either have to qualify or apply to compete, a change from the tournament’s current open format.
Up to eight teams in each age group will play in round robins over three weekends in March and April. A fourth weekend in May will serve as the semifinals and finals.
The Idaho Youth Soccer Association has not finalized the calendar yet, but it plans to move away from the traditional Memorial Day weekend championships, IYSA spokesperson Nicole Arsenault said.
She added that the change will bring Idaho in alignment with neighboring states and lighten the load on players, who can play as many as five games in four days in the current system.
STATE CUP CHAMPIONSHIP SCORES
GIRLS
- U-13: Idaho Rush 2, Boise Thorns 1
- U-14: Boise Thorns 2, Idaho Rush 0
- U-15: Idaho Rush 3, Albion SC 1
- U-16: CGA 2, Boise Thorns 1
- U-17: Boise Thorns 2, Inferno 1
- U-19: Boise Thorns 6, CGA 1
BOYS
- U-13: Boise Timbers 1, Idaho Rush 0
- U-14: Boise Timbers 5, Galacticos 0
- U-15: Boise Timbers Elite 2, Boise Timbers Red 1
- U-16: Boise Timbers 3, Idaho Rush 0
- U-17: Timbers North 3, Boise Timbers 2
- U-18: Boise Timbers 2, Idaho Rush 1
- U-19: Boise Timbers (won group)
This story was originally published May 30, 2022 at 3:03 PM.