Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 6/11 – From Staff Report
The Daily Progress has reported that Virginia All-American midfielder Dox Aitken (Haverford School) plans to return to Charlottesville for a fifth year next spring after playing football this fall at Villanova.
If Aitken (6-2, 210) does play both sports in one year, it would be a rare feat of athletics for the standout who helped lead the Cavaliers to the 2019 Division I National Lacrosse Championship at Philly’s Lincoln Financial Field.
Aitken, who also starred at Haverford School on the football gridiron but decided to play lacrosse in college, had committed to play at Villanova late this winter – just weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic ended the 2020 season.
The Daily Progress reported that Aitken can return due to an NCAA rule that allows a player to play four years at a school, go to another and return to the first university. Aitken would be taking advantage of eligibility relief granted by the NCAA which has granted players a fifth year due to the pandemic.
“It’s a 20-year-old statute,” Tiffany said to the Daily Progress. “Not sure why it’s in there, but we’re happy our compliance office found it. It allows Dox to pursue his passion. He really wants to play football. He wants to measure himself in a different sport, and he really wants to come back to UVa and play a fifth year. Now he has a chance to do that.”
Aitken, a three-time USILA All-American on the lacrosse field, was a wide receiver, defensive back and punter for Haverford’s football team. Aitken was the Inter-Ac League Player of the Year and an All-City and All-Delco honoree in 2015, leading the Fords to an undefeated (10-0) season. He also set school records for receiving yards (858) and touchdown receptions (11) in a season.
Villanova is expected to enter 2020 as one of the top-rated FCS teams in the nation.
In 2019 Aitken broke his own single-season record for points by a midfielder (52). He owns the UVA career record for goals by a midfielder (121), and is a three-time USILA All-American (First Team pick in 2018-19).
