George Boiardi Remembered By Cornell at 2009 NCAA Lacrosse Finals

by Jon Azpiri | May 25, 2009 at 02:13 pm

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Former Cornell lacrosse player George Boiardi has been of the minds of the Cornell lacrosse team during their run to the Finals of the 2009 NCAA Lacrosse tournament.

The Cornell lacrosse player was killed in 2004 during a lacrosse game against Binghamton University. With less than three minutes left, Boiardi blocked a shot and was struck in the chest by the lacrosse ball. Boiardi fell onto the field and couldn't be revived by paramedics. By request of Boiardi's family, the cause of death was not released.

George Boiardi is still in the thoughts of the 2009 Cornell lacrosse roster as they head into the Finals of the 2009 NCAA Lacrosse Tournament. Cornell midfielder Pierce Derkac wrote about Boiardi's impact in a blog posting for the New York Times website:

With around 2:48 left in our win over Virginia, I was standing on the sideline watching our offense run down the clock. Rocco Romero turned to me and commented that the score, 15-6, totaled 21, the jersey number of the former Cornell player George Boiardi, who died after a game in 2004. At that very moment, the sun emerged from the clouds and shone the brightest it had all day. Rocco threw his arm around my shoulder and said: “The sun’s out. Georgie’s watching us right now. He’s here.”

Boiardi was the great grandson of Ettore Boiardi , founder of Chef Boyardee.

Cornell will face Syracuse in the NCAA Lacrosse Finals on Monday, May 26 in Foxborough, MA.