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Former FHS star Boyd to play and coach lacrosse in England
Speed has long been one of Jillian Boyd’s greatest strengths as a lacrosse player.
Beating opponents down field with ease, she became a prolific scorer for the Fauquier High Falcons and then at the Virginia Wesleyan College Marlins.
But Boyd’s speed in the classroom almost cost her a tremendous senior season at VWC.
The 21-year-old Warrenton native raced through her first three years of college. She was ready to graduate a year early and forgo a fourth season with the Marlins to take advantage of an opportunity to coach and play lacrosse in England.
The attacking midfielder eventually chose to return to Wesleyan for the 2007-08 school year, though, and the Marlins were thankful.
Boyd was the only senior on the lacrosse team this past season and led the Marlins to a 12-6 record and runner-up finish in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference while cementing her place as one of the greatest players in team history. She was named to the All-ODAC team for a fourth consecutive season, the All-Chesapeake Region team for a third consecutive season and the All-Virginia team for a second season.
“She always wanted what was best for the program,” Marlins coach Fran Amasia said recently. “The best example of that was she could have graduated early, but she chose to stay another year and help her team.”
Ultimately, Boyd didn’t have to sacrifice her overseas opportunity, either. A coaching job still awaits her at St. Margaret's School in England and a roster spot awaits her on the West London team in the England League Premier Division.
“I was just really happy with my decision to come back and play a fourth year. It was just really nice to have us finally unite as a team,” Boyd said of VWC. “I [thought I] was done. I took way too many credits my [first three years] and didn’t know I was so far ahead…but I decided to stay. I thought it’d be beneficial as player and coach to stick around.”
Boyd could have walked the graduation stage last spring and gotten her social science degree by taking one final class in the summer. Instead, she dropped one class, didn’t take any classes this past fall and was able to take two classes this past spring to remain eligible and join the Marlins as a player/assistant coach...See the Friday print edition of the Fauquier Weekend for the complete story.
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