Tiger of the Week: Ryan Boyle '04

Ryan Boyle '04, pictured at the 2010 World Lacrosse Championship. (Courtesy Timon Lorenzo '07)

Ryan Boyle ’04 just keeps winning. The former Princeton All-American and current pro lacrosse star helped the Boston Cannons capture their first Major League Lacrosse championship Aug. 28. For Boyle, it was his fourth MLL title in eight seasons. He also has represented the United States in the World Lacrosse Championship three times, winning two gold medals. And at Princeton, he was part of four Ivy League championship teams and one NCAA championship, in 2001.

Boyle’s Midas touch comes partly from his ability to help the players around him. He led Boston in assists this year – no surprise to those who followed his Princeton career – and teammate Matt Poskay told Lacrosse Magazine that Boyle “is the essential quarterback of the team.” In the league semifinals, Boyle assisted on a last-second goal that propelled Boston to the final. He added a goal and three assists in the title game.

While collegiate lacrosse continues to grow, professional lacrosse remains a niche sport. Boston averaged more than 8,600 fans per home game this year; the league championship, played in wet conditions in Annapolis, Md., less than a day after Hurricane Irene passed through, drew just over 5,000. But Boyle is one of the game’s bona fide stars, excelling in MLL and the indoor pro circuit, the National Lacrosse League. 

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