Ryan Boyle has something to prove.
The Baltimore native and graduate of the Gilman School (2000) and Princeton University (2004) will lead the Philadelphia Barrage into the Major League Lacrosse postseason next weekend in Los Angeles. Philadelphia earned the second seed and will play Eastern Conference rival Boston on Aug. 25.
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Boyle, an attackman, admits he has been playing with something to prove since the International Lacrosse Federation World Championships. He saw limited action for Team USA and did not play in the championship game, a 15-10 loss to Canada.
“I definitely have a chip on my shoulder,” Boyle said. “I am definitely out to prove, to show the type of player I am. Would that have been different if we had won or Ihad played? Maybe, but the fact of the matter is we lost and I didn?t play.”
Since his return to the Barrage from the world championships, Boyle has tallied 19 points, 10 of which were goals. Boyle spread 15 of those points across two games against the Bayhawks, the latest being a 20-12 Philadelphia win on Saturday.
“I think anytime you are playing against the hometown team, you want to play well,” Boyle said. “They had a chance to draft me and they didn?t, and I don?t think about that stuff too much, but when we came back, that Baltimore game was a huge game for us. If we win that, we lock up a playoff spot.”
Bayhawks coach Scott Hiller saw Boyle?s frustration.
“Anyone who knows anything about what happened, Ryan not playing at all in the championship game, he was frustrated about it,” Hiller said. “He is making a point of it the last couple games of the season to show a lot of people that they made a mistake.”
Bayhawks goalie Matt Russell chalks Boyle?s play up to pure skill.
“He is just an unbelievable player,” Russell said. “He is so smooth and he thinks 10 seconds ahead. Great players think ahead of the game.”
THE BOYLE FILE
Team: Philadelphia Barrage
Position: Attack
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 180 pounds
Did you know? Boyle played for Team USA in 2006 and 2002 and was also a member of Princeton?s national championship team in 2001 … Boyle is also a member of the indoor San Jose Stealth in the National Lacrosse League.
