Joanna Boyles

Photo by: Andy Mead

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

Position:
Midfielder
Height:
5-8
Class:
Sophomore
Hometown:
Raleigh, N.C.
High School:
Sanderson

JOANNA BOYLES
Dorrance on Joanna: Joanna Boyles technically is my most gifted player. Even if you look at our entire history of our brilliant technicians she ranks right up there with the Tobin Heaths and the Meghan Klingenbergs and some of the best technical players that we’ve ever had here at UNC like the Tisha Venturinis. Jo Boyles technically is just a magnificent player. The other thing I like about Jo is that she has improved defensively every year she’s been here and she’s becoming a greater asset to our program and to the players that she plays with. She’s an island of tranquility and composure in a game where that is difficult to ever have. She sets the mark for us in terms of playmaking, in terms of technical platforms and in terms of decision making. She’s just a spectacular player for us.
Senior Year (2016): Took a red-shirt season in 2015 as she recovered from an ACL tear suffered during practice on November 8, 2015 • has played at both attacking center midfield and holding center midfield position during her career • in fall 2016, she tore ACL in her other knee in practice and immediately began rehab in order to be ready by August 2017 season opener • named to 2016-17 ACC Academic Honor Roll • won the prestigious UNC Athletic Director’s Scholar-Athlete award for the women’s soccer team in 2016-17.
Junior Year (2015): 2015 second-team All-ACC selection • third-team NSCAA All-Southeast Region selection as a junior • earned honors on 2015-16 All-ACC Academic Team for women’s soccer • selected for College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-District 3 Team as a junior • 2015-16 ACC Academic Honor Roll selection • in 2015, she was in her second season as a starter at center midfield • missed final 2 games of 2015 season • named to All-Tournament Team at ACC Tournament • named to Top Drawer Soccer preseason third-team Best XI in the midfield • played in 19 games during the season, starting 17 times and playing 1,203 minutes • named to Top Drawer Soccer National Team of the Week on October 26, 2015 and was also tapped as a CS360 Primetime Performer of the Week • played all 270 minutes in wins over Notre Dame, Clemson and Miami • she scored the game-winning goal on a header in the 74th minute in victory over Notre Dame • assisted on game-winning goal by Jessie Scarpa versus Clemson • was magnificent in win over BC on October 2 • assisted on Alexa Newfield’s game-winning goal and then scored an insurance goal on a one-touch, 30-yard shot five minutes into the second half • named to All-Tournament Team at Duke Nike Classic • scored first goal of year in 49th minute to clinch a 2-0 win at Texas • opened the scoring in the win at Virginia Tech with a world class 25-yard strike in the 21st minute • recorded two assists versus Fresno State.
Sophomore Year (2014): Began season by earning the starting position as Carolina’s attacking center midfielder, taking over at the spot Crystal Dunn played in 2013 • started all 20 games for the Tar Heels • second-team All-ACC honoree • also named to All-ACC Academic Team • one of UNC’s more durable players • ranked third on the team in minutes played with 1,392 • led Carolina in scoring with 14 points • scored three goals and led the Tar Heels in assists with 8 • scored the game-winning goal versus #5 Virginia Tech in the 48th minute of play • six of her eight assists were on game-winning goals • she assisted on Paige Nielsen’s game-winning overtime goal at Syracuse and Amber Munerlyn’s game-winning goal in the NCAA first round versus South Dakota State • assisted on game-winner by Paige Nielsen versus Wake Forest • had the primary assist on Paige Nielsen’s game-winning goal at NC State • scored the opening goal of the match at Clemson, heading in a corner kick in the fourth minute • led UNC’s comeback win at Notre Dame • tied the match 2-2 on a world class free kick in the 76th minute • had the secondary assist on Kat Nigro’s game-winning goal in the 101st minute versus the Fighting Irish • for her performance against Notre Dame she was named to the Top Drawer Soccer National Team of the Week • was also tapped as a CS360 Primetime Performer of the Week for her play against the Irish • had first career assist in double overtime win over Penn State, feeding Amber Munerlyn for a breakaway goal in the 102nd minute in 1-0 win over Nittany Lions • participated as a Rising Star in the Carolina Leadership Academy • named to 2014-15 ACC Academic Honor Roll • earned honors on Dean’s List in spring semester 2015.
Freshman Year (2013): Appeared in 23 games as a reserve midfielder and showed tremendous improvement during the course of the season • played a total of 626 minutes during the course of the season • scored the game-winning goal against #9-ranked West Virginia in the 44th minute, converting one of the best free kick goals in recent UNC history • was a key player off the bench versus Wake Forest, playing 46 minutes as a holding center midfielder • also came up huge against Texas A&M in the NCAA third round game, playing 65 minutes off bench in relief of Crystal Dunn, who was injured early in the match • named to Dean’s List in spring semester of 2014 • tapped for 2013-14 ACC Academic Honor Roll.
High School: Graduated from Sanderson High School on June 11, 2013 • did not play high school sports, concentrating solely on club soccer • graduated high school in just three years, earning a 4.5 GPA and ranking 19th in a class of 442.
National Teams: Was a member of U.S. U20 National Team player pool • trained with the U20 squad for most of 2014 and was one of the final cuts before the team was taken down to 21 players for the World Cup in Canada in August 2014 • played on U.S. U17 Team at World Cup in Azerbaijan in 2012 • member of U.S. U17 squad which won CONCACAF championship in 2012 in Guatemala • member of U.S. U17 National Team that won 2010 Nordic Cup championship • began 2010 on U.S. U15 WNT before being promoted to U17 Team • played in 2009 and 2010 Thanksgiving Interregional in Sunrise, Fla., with U.S. U15 WNT • attendee at 2009 U14 U.S. Soccer ID Camp • 2009 U.S. Soccer adidas Golden Boot recipient.
Club: Co-captain of ’94 CASL Chelsea Ladies beginning in 2009 • named to ECNL All-Event Team in Sanford, Fla., in 2012 & 2013 • 2011 & 2012 NSCAA Youth All-America selection • was MVP in all four games at 2012 Costa Rica International Tournament while representing USYSA R3 Team • was captain of that team in Costa Rica • 2009-10 ECNL All-Event Team selection at Disney and Final 4 • played on club teams which won 13 event championships between 2008 and 2013 while also reaching the finals another time and the semifinals in the 15th and 16th events • biggest of those championships came when 2011 and 2012 club teams notched ECNL national titles • was the leading scorer of the ’94 CASL Chelsea Ladies three straight years (2011-13), totaling 38 goals.
Personal: Full name is Joanna Bess Boyles • daughter of Scott and Wendy Boyles • was born in November 1995 in Raleigh, N.C. • has one brother, Benjamin, 23 • he is currently in his third year in UNC Lax School • exercise & sports science major with business minor • stands 5-8 tall.