Princeton University Athletics
Boyle Named Preseason First-Team All-America By Inside Lacrosse
December 20, 2003 | Men's Lacrosse
Dec. 20, 2003
Ryan Boyle is beginning the 2004 season right where he ended the 2003 season.
Boyle, a first-team All-America last year as a junior, was chosen as a preseason first-team All-America by Inside Lacrosse magazine.
Boyle was one of three Princeton players selected by Inside Lacrosse for its preseason All-America teams. Junior Jason Doneger and senior Ricky Schultz were both selected to the third team.
Princeton was ranked fourth in the preseason poll, behind No. 1 Virginia, No. 2 Johns Hopkins and No. 3 Syracuse.
The 2004 season will be an interesting one for the Tigers, who have only four players on the roster who have ever started a game and who will be relying heavily on one of the nation's top recruiting classes. Princeton was practically wiped out by graduation, which claimed such four-year starters as Damien Davis (first-team All-America), Brad Dumont (second-team All-America) and Sean Hartofilis (third-leading goal-scorer in school history), as well as veterans like Owen Daly, Brian Lieberman, Joe Rosenbaum, Josh White, Matt Trevenen, Will MacColl and Julian Gould. Princeton does have Boyle, who enters his senior season as the third-leading scorer in school history after tying the school record with 48 assists a year ago, and Doneger, who scored 41 goals a year ago, on attack.
Boyle assisted on B.J. Prager's overtime goal against Syracuse to win the 2001 NCAA championship, and that play began when Schultz cleared the ball. Schultz has since started most of the last two seasons and is Princeton's most experienced defensive player.
Oliver Barry, who started three games last year when Schultz was hurt, is the only other Princeton player who has ever started a game prior to this season.
Princeton's only other returning players with considerable experience are both face-off men, Drew Casino and Ryan Schoenig, as well as midfielder Mac Bryson and defenseman Tim Sullivan.
Princeton opens its season at home Feb. 28 against Quinnipiac before heading to Johns Hopkins and Virginia for its second and third games of the season. Other highlights on the schedule include the March 20 game at home against Hofstra, the March 27 game at home against Syracuse that can be seen on College Sports Television and the April 10 home game against Rutgers, as well as the six Ivy League games.
Princeton has won six NCAA championships, played in eight NCAA championship games, advanced to nine Final Fours and won 11 Ivy League championships in the last 12 years.