Joe Bossi, Class of 2000
“The only person who can stop you is you!”
Joining the Falcons for one year as a postgrad, Joe Bossi ’00 put together what is undeniably one of the strongest seasons in Peddie Lacrosse history. Through 14 games, Bossi led the team with 43 goals and 23 assists, a total of 66 points. Highlights of Bossi’s Peddie career include an 8-5 win over rival Lawrenceville, where he and fellow postgraduate Ben Bailey ’00 combined for all eight of the Falcons’ goals, and an unforgettable overtime goal against perennial powerhouse Bridgewater Raritan. The Falcons went on to clinch a second consecutive MAPL championship and a Prep A championship. Bossi and Bailey were named to the 2000 MAPL Boys Lacrosse All-League Team.
Growing up in Skaneateles, N.Y., Bossi played soccer, hockey and lacrosse, playing goalie in both soccer and hockey. He decided against playing goalie in lacrosse because it “felt good to score.” Bossi’s passion for lacrosse would ultimately outgrow his interest in other sports and would propel him to an impressive lacrosse career at both Peddie and the United States Naval Academy.
In fact, on April 10, 2004, the senior Bossi scored three of Navy’s nine goals to lead the fourth-ranked Mids over top-ranked Maryland, 9-6, at Byrd Stadium in College Park, Maryland. It was the first win over a No. 1-ranked team in Navy lacrosse history, according to Navy Sports. At the time, Bossi recorded only the sixth 40-goal season in academy history in 2004. That season was the program’s first trip to the National Championship since 1975.
Bossi was named an Honorable Mention All-American and tallied 50 points on 44 goals and six assists. As of May 2004, his 44 goals at the time were third all-time by a Navy player in a single season. Bossi was responsible for nine game-winning goals over the course of the 15-3 season. For his career, he notched 63 goals and added 13 assists for 76 points.
“I tell everybody, if I went to the U.S. Naval Academy right out of high school, there was not a chance I would have survived,” Bossi said. “I certainly would not have been set up as I was if I didn’t come to Peddie for an extra year of growth, academically and on the sports side of it.”
“When I got there and started playing for Coach Turco, I thought he was pretty awesome,” Bossi said. “He knew his x’s and o’s, and he would give you a pregame speech, and he would make you want to run through a wall.”
It was also at Peddie where he learned a life lesson.
“One time, I spoke back to Coach Turco and used an expletive,” Bossi explained. “He said ‘Joe, get in the goal. Everybody else get on the line.’ The whole team ran sprints for 15 minutes. I felt horrible as I watched my teammates going back and forth. For me, it was a huge lesson. I’ve thought about it since he did it. It was a huge teaching moment for me. Coach Turco used to say, ‘The only person who can stop you is you.’ It really helped me out confidence-wise and knowing the coach had your back.”
Twenty-five years later, this message still rings true for Bossi and his many contributions as a service member of the United States Navy.