Bill Boyle '57

Bill Boyle was a tremendous two-sport athlete and Washington and Lee’s first truly great soccer player.

Boyle lettered all four years as a member of the tennis team, helping the Generals’ varsity squad post a 21-12 overall record over his final three seasons. W&L finished among the top half in the Southern Conference Tournament all three years and topped out in third-place at the 1956 championship event.

Although a great tennis player, Boyle made his mark at Washington and Lee as a member of the soccer team where he lettered all four years, earning Third Team All-America honors from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) in 1956. He was W&L’s first soccer All-American and the school’s only such honoree for another 40 years until another General received All-America status in 1996.

Boyle started as a member of the freshman team in 1953 and earned the team’s most valuable player award. As a sophomore, Boyle led the varsity squad in scoring and helped the Generals to a 5-3-2 overall record that included a pair of wins over Virginia and a scoreless tie against ACC Champion Maryland. Boyle and the Generals posted just a 3-6-1 mark in 1955, but produced another victory and a tie against UVA in the process.

Boyle’s senior season resulted in an 8-4 overall record and he was widely recognized as one of the South’s top offensive threats as he garnered All-America honors.