Lak grew up in Huntington Beach, California, graduating from Ocean View High School in 1991.
He attended Cal Poly Pomona where he played on the men's soccer team in 1991 and 1992.
[1] He transferred to Cal State Fullerton after his sophomore year and played on the Titan's soccer team in 1993 and 1994.
[2] In 1995, Lak played for the Los Angeles Salsa U-23 in the USISL Pro League.
[3] In 1997, he signed with the Orange County Zodiac which served as the farm team for the Los Angeles Galaxy.