New York defender Kemar Lawrence leaped over Je-Vaughn Watson on a run up the field. Photograph by Matt Kremkau

By JACK BELL

HARRISON, N.J. — Kemar Lawrence lost a rock in his young life when his grandmother died during earlier in the 2017 Major League Soccer season.

On Saturday night, New York (6-6-2, 20 points) discovered that the team’s rock at left back is more than a speedy and tenacious defender. Lawrence was speedy and tenacious pressing forward — playing a pivotal role in both Red Bulls’ goals in the come-from-behind 2-1 win over New England (4-5-4, 16) at Red Bull Arena. The victory snapped New York’s four-game winless streak and halted the Revolution’s two-game winning streak.

“I think Kemar has been if not our best player then one of our best players this year,” Red Bulls Coach Jesse Marsch said after the game, which completed a three-game home stand. “He started out slow, had a couple personal things he had to fight through with his family. But, my gosh, he’s playing the best he’s ever played. It’s just a series of consecutive games that he takes care of things defensively first, then finds a way to be dangerous in the attack and make some plays. It’s great to see.

“We’ve all here had such a high belief in Kemar and his personality and his talent, his way of committing to all this. I’m really proud of him. I’m really happy for him. Hopefully we won’t miss him too much this summer with Jamaica.”

Marsch was referring to Lawrence’s near-certain absence for what could be a month as he prepares with and then expects to play for Jamaica in the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Only 24, Lawrence has already played 34 times for the Reggae Boyz’ senior national team. But the anticipation of appearing yet again on the international stage was probably the furthest thing from his mind when his grandmother, Norma Seymour, died at 60.

“She was my everything,” Lawrence said as he dressed after the game in the far corner of the Red Bulls’ locker room. “She was the person I talked to before and after games. Everyday she would call me before training. She was my hero. Losing her drained me.”

And as so many people discover when a grandparent dies, it’s often “hard to find someone who supports you every moment of your life.”

To a huge degree, Lawrence’s teammates have filled a small part of that void with their support and compliments for a player who is maturing before their eyes.

Lawrence, who wears the year of his birth (1992) as his uniform number (92), missed three games as he tended to personal matters back home in Kingston.

“It’s weird now that she’s not around,” Lawrence said. “It left me with a lot of anger, but I can express it on the field. I guess everyday it gets a little easier. Every single thing I do this year I do in her memory.”

Against New England on Saturday, Lawrence flexed his muscles on offense in eye-opening fashion. In the 23rd minute, he unleashed a cannonball of a shot from 25 yards that forced New England goalkeeper Cody Cropper to make a desperate, reflex save (video of the shot is at the 1-minute-33-second mark here).

“They’ve been encouraging me to get forward, I have the speed and know when to go,” he said. “I love defending, it’s a joy to tackle, but I also love getting forward. It’s just natural.”

After New York yielded a penalty kick early in the first half, Lawrence won the ball near the New England end line in the 47th minute. His cross was bobbled by Cropper as Bradley Wright-Phillips swooped in to backheel home the equalizer.

“I think for the last six weeks, Kemar has been easily our best player,” said Wright-Phillips, who scored his sixth of the season and 75th in a Red Bulls uniform. “I mean, even when we lose, the guy is the best. He is very hard to deal with and not just going forward, at the back he puts in a few tackles. He has been a very good player.”

In the 74th minute, Lawrence again streaked down the left side before crossing to Daniel Royer, who tucked in the game-winner to a vacant net.

The victory was only the second for New York after allowing the first goal (2-5). Marsch, who is unbeaten (5-4-0) as Red Bulls coach in games against New England, called the performance “our best game.”