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Boyle's Sharing of Wisdom With Freshmen Helped Spark Tiger Men's Lax to Final Four
By Bill Alden
Heading into this spring, Princeton senior attacker Ryan Boyle had accomplished just about everything possible on the lacrosse field.
The 5'11, 180-pound native of Hunt Valley, Md. had played on Princeton's 2001 NCAA championship team as well as the U.S. team that won the 2002 World Championships in Perth, Australia.
In terms of individual honors, Boyle had been the 2001 Ivy League Rookie of the Year, the 2002 Ivy Player of the Year, and a first-team All-American in 2003.
With Princeton losing a core of veterans to graduation and welcoming 14 freshmen to the roster this season, Boyle could've rested on his laurels and just focused on piling up statistics as the Tigers went through what seemed certain to be a rebuilding year.
Instead, with a little prodding from the Tiger coaching staff, Boyle took it upon himself to badger the program's bevy of new faces into mastering the intricacies of the Princeton system.
Quarterbacking the offense, Boyle led his merry band of young warriors on an improbable run which came up just short as Princeton fell 8-7 to Navy last Saturday in a national semifinal clash played at M&T Stadium in Baltimore.
While Boyle was disappointed to have his glittering career end with a defeat, he was even sadder for his younger teammates
"I just wanted to get there for the young guys who improved so much," said Boyle, who had a goal and three assists in his finale. "They put up with me all year just yelling at them. For them to improve so much and come up just short, I'm so proud of them."
Princeton head coach Bill Tierney has been justifiably proud of how Boyle assumed the mantle of leadership this spring.
"Ryan has always run the show but this year Ryan's running the show like a true leader not just as the best lacrosse player," said Tierney, who ranks Boyle as one of the all-timers on the attack, asserting that he is at the same level with Princeton greats Kevin Lowe and Jon Hess.
"He's running it as a friend and as a leader to these young guys. He's doing everything he can to make them better."
Boyle, for his part, acknowledged that the young guys gave him a needed jolt. "They came in bushy-tailed and with so much energy," recalled Boyle with a grin.
"It revitalized me. As much fun as it is playing with the guys [who graduated], it can get a little stale, where you expect things to happen. These guys came in so enthusiastic to try anything. They had a willingness to accept what I was telling them. They would've jumped off a cliff if I told them that would help us win."
Sparked by his young teammates, Boyle cemented his place at the summit of Princeton lacrosse. He ended the spring with 23 goals and 44 assists, leading the nation in the latter category.
Overall, he finished his career second all-time at Princeton in points (232) and assists (162), trailing only Kevin Lowe's totals of 247 and 174 in those categories.
He was named the 2004 Ivy League Player of the Year, making him just the second player, along with Cornell's Eamon McEnearney, to have won that award twice.
Boyle was also named as a first-team All-American, making him the seventh two-time All-American during Tierney's tenure at Princeton.
Last week, Boyle's skill and leadership was recognized as he won the prestigious William Roper Trophy which is given to Princeton's top senior male athlete, recognizing qualities of scholarship and sportsmanship as well as athletic prowess.
While the latter honor was particularly fitting considering the character Boyle has shown this spring, he was floored when he was told he had won the award.
"I was blown away by that, I really had no idea," said Boyle with a chuckle. "When they were describing the award, scholarship and sportsmanship, I thought, OK, which football guy is going to get this."
For Boyle, though, the individual accolades are secondary when he reflects on his college experience.
"The thing for me is just coming to Princeton," asserted Boyle. "I just wanted to be part of that tradition. I'm going to miss playing with these guys a lot."
Princeton's younger players will certainly miss Boyle's special brand of leadership when they hit the field without him next spring.
