MELBOURNE — There was an empty net in front of him and Richie Laryea was inside the six-yard box, so even Sigma FC teammate Cyle Larin was caught off guard when Laryea attempted to a lay a pass off instead of shoot.
The would-be assist rolled past Larin and out for a goal kick, and Laryea's unselfish incident became not just a banter-inducing moment among his Sigma teammates, but also an important step in the development of Orlando City's top 2016 draft pick.
It was a year before Laryea left for college at Akron, and the young midfielder had all the technical ability but lacked that one crucial attribute: a killer instinct.