Student-athletes from many of northwestern Pennsylvania's colleges are voluntarily taking part this year in a project to put the fan one step closer to the field.
College Connection will feature a recurring series of entries at the Erie Times-News Sports blog from student-athletes in various sports. Entries will start with the authors' biographies, then take off in the direction each athlete desires, from on-field performance to off-field life.
Today, meet Jessica Boyle, a sophomore midfielder/forward on the Allegheny College women's soccer team.
Jessica, a history major, is from Lewis Center, Ohio, about 20 minutes north of Columbus, where she attended Olentangy High School. One younger sister still is enrolled there, and another is in seventh grade.
A year ago, as a freshman, Jessica played in 16 games and started one, getting 10 shots on goal. The Gators finished 6-9-3 overall and 3-4-1 in the North Coast Athletic Conference. The Gators were picked sixth in the 2008 NCAC preseason coaches' poll.
Keep up with Jessica and Allegheny daily in the Times-News and at the college's women's soccer Web page.
You'll be able to find all the College Connection posts by clicking on the project name in the category menu on the right side of the blog page, or by clicking the author's name or college in the same menu. Feel free to leave well-meaning questions or comments for review and possible posting.