Google Cyle Larin and sophomore slump and up pops dozens of newspaper and blog stories pontificating on whether the 2015 Major League Soccer rookie of the year can avoid the “dreaded” case of second-year-itis.

The Orlando City FC and Canadian national men’s team striker scored a record-breaking 17 goals in his inaugural pro season. But could the No. 1 overall draft pick repeat that brilliance? Or would he fall victim to the pressure of meeting even greater expectations?

Inevitably, the media trotted out the trope about the sophomore jinx, the mythic affliction in which the second year, season or album fails to live up to the standards of the first effort for athletes, television shows, singers/bands and university students.

His Orlando head coach, Adrian Heath, provided his star forward with no wiggle room by saying he expected Larin, who turns 21 next month, to hit the 20-goal mark in 2016.

So what does the Brampton, Ont., native do to start the MLS regular season? He goes out and scores a goal in each of Orlando’s first three games in March.

His seventh-minute goal last Friday in a 1-0 win over New York City FC was one of those right-place, right-time tallies that pure goal scorers seem to get. NYCFC goalkeeper Josh Saunders’ one-handed clearance deflected from close range off Larin’s face and in.

“I had plenty of chances in those games … and I think I could have had more,” a confident Larin said Tuesday after the national team practised at BC Place Stadium ahead of Friday’s huge World Cup qualifying match against Mexico. “I just have to be more clinical in the box and around the goal.

“I know I have a lot more in me.”

So does Heath.

“He’s learning lessons,” the Orlando coach said after the win over NYCFC. “We do a lot of work with him, a lot of training. And he’s picking it up. His future’s really bright. He’s got all the tools to be a top-class striker.”

With the sophomore slump talk quickly out of the way, Larin will hope to keep the run going with a goal or two against Mexico as Canada looks to put itself in position to secure a berth in the Hex, the final round of CONCACAF qualifying for Russia 2018.

The solidly-built, 6-2 Larin has four goals in 15 appearances for Canada’s senior squad, the most important one coming last November at BC Place in a 1-0 victory over Honduras in the opening match of the four-country qualifying group that also includes El Salvador.

Like his goal in New York, it wasn’t a pretty one. Will Johnson, stationed at the far post, headed down a Junior Hoilett cross, the ball deflecting into the goal off the back of a prone Larin.

“As long as I score, it’s good,” he said with a big smile.

But while goals are his primary focus, he would like to add a bit of a playmaking element to his game. He failed to draw a single assist last season, a deficiency teammate Kaka, the Brazilian legend, was quick to rib him about. Larin quickly answered that question with an assist on Adrian Winter’s game-tying goal in the season-opener.