Shannon Boyle says goodbye to lacrosse career after final season at Hofstra

Lacrosse can be a way of life for Long Island residents. Even though it was not her first sport, graduate student Shannon Boyle of the Hofstra women’s lacrosse team fell in love with the game at a young age.

“Soccer and basketball were what I was doing at first,” Boyle said. “Long Island is a huge hotbed for lacrosse. I was probably in fourth or fifth grade when I started playing, just because everyone in my town was playing, including all my friends, so I wanted to get involved.”

What started as just a social activity became something Boyle fell in love with. The Huntington native has played the game since she was eight years old but only began to take it seriously in middle school. Boyle attended the prestigious St. Anthony's High School in South Huntington, known for its academics and national rankings in athletics. While attending St. Anthony's, Boyle had an outstanding career. She was named midfielder of the year while clinching championship wins during all three seasons. Along with her success on the lacrosse field, Boyle was also a star in the classroom, maintaining a 4.0 grade point average throughout high school. 

The transition from high school to college isn't always smooth sailing, but Boyle notes the most significant change is the intensity, whether on or off the field.

“No one really can prepare you for that high school to college transition,” Boyle said. “You could be going to the best high school in the world, but there's still that intensity level which is definitely different [in college].”

 As a freshman, Boyle struggled to find confidence within herself. Coming out of high school into college can feel as if you're a small fish in a big pond, especially at the Division I level. However, Boyle leaned on her new teammates at Hofstra to help her adjust to the stresses that come with college.  

“My teammates were playing and starting too,” Boyle said.  “Having them as a backbone and someone to go to was definitely part of that transition.”

As a speech pathology major, balance in life is critical for Boyle.

“When I was an undergrad, there were only two student-athletes in the whole major,” Boyle said.  “A lot of the classes obviously were not flexible. Having to juggle lacrosse and school wasn't going to be easy. Having pressure to play [well] in games and stuff kind of affected me more when I was younger, but I've learned to just kind of live with it and grow from it.”

Since entering as a freshman in 2018, Boyle has learned many things about herself as she gets ready to close out her collegiate career this season.

“I was 17 when I came to Hofstra; now I'm 22. Having grown that maturity and calm sense helped me realize I can't control everything,” Boyle said. “Freshman year, I was really hard on myself. I still am, but I think now I use it in a way that to fuel my game instead.”

Being the versatile player she is, Boyle started her career as a midfielder but has predominately played defense for the Pride. 

“I loved playing midfield, but I was always more of a defensive mind and oriented person,” Boyle said. “I always joke about it; running in midfield, but then when I would get on the offensive side, I would just kind of pass the ball. I wasn't really doing anything crazy.”

During her time at Hofstra, Boyle has scored seven goals, one of which occurred earlier this season in a 16-9 victory at Marist College. However, where Boyle really shines is on the defensive. This season alone, she achieved 30 ground balls and 87 draw controls, and she has caused 21 turnovers.    

 As much as statistics measure the performance of the individual, Boyle feels her eye-popping numbers are a testament to her teammates.

“Katie Whelan is definitely my best friend,” Boyle said. “We've been through five years of this, and Ariana Esposito, too. We've been through a lot together and have had ups and downs on and off the field, but I know they'll always have my back, and I'll always have theirs ... having someone to share this journey with has been really important. 

To prepare for each game, Boyle’s game-day routine is one she considers to be superstitious yet straightforward, as she wears the same sports bra and gets her hair braided the same way before every game by teammate Anna Kaufman.

Now having been part of the Pride for five years, Boyle has created many memories, but her senior year has been what she considers to be her favorite.  

“Last season was really special for me even though I knew I was coming back for the fifth year,” Boyle said. “We got to the CAA [Colonial Athletic Association] tournament and the NCAAs, which was a huge thing.”

Aside from her athletic contributions, Boyle has strong ties to the Hofstra community. Boyle serves as a member of Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and has volunteered for Surfers Healing, a non-profit organization that teaches children with autism to surf.

Although her lacrosse career is ending, she's excited to dive into her professional career as a speech pathologist working with children, whether in a school or a multidisciplinary group setting.

But before she does that, Boyle’s biggest goal is to leave Hofstra with a CAA championship.

“Leaving that with the team would be incredible,” Boyle said. “I always say we don't have to be four or five-star recruits, or all-Americans. As long as we work hard and believe in ourselves, we can do anything.”

 Photo Courtesy of Hofstra Athletics