Colorado University Athletics
Colorado
Stony Brook
Ryan Quietly Developing as a Top Offensive Threat
February 24, 2026 | Lacrosse
BOULDER – Ten goals in three games to open the season tends to thrust you into the spotlight.
For Colorado's Teagan Ryan, it's just the product of momentum — and a team-first approach.
"The season's been really exciting so far," Ryan admitted. "I really can't do it without my entire team and all my teammates working together out there. We've had really good momentum so far, and we're just looking to keep it going."
That answer is typical for No. 15 Colorado — quick to highlight the team achievements before any individual accomplishments. But through the first few games, the junior attacker has become increasingly harder to ignore.
Ryan, somewhat quietly, scored 25 goals last season while playing alongside high-profile attackers who naturally commanded defensive attention. With names like Madeline Pisani and current teammates Maddie Shoup and Lily Assini drawing the top matchups, Ryan often operated a step removed from the traffic — cutting, slipping into seams and finishing with efficiency.
This spring, she's still benefiting from that dynamic — but she's also embracing more responsibility.
"I'm really excited to kind of take on a bigger role," Ryan said. "Especially on the left side. We just had great leaders there last year. I think this year I've been trying to step into that role and just help lead our team to success."
The role may be bigger. The style remains the same — opportunistic and deceptively dangerous.
"I honestly think it works to my advantage," Ryan said of playing alongside high-volume scorers. "Attention will be on those dodgers because it's hard to slow them down. I think people who play as I do — working off each other and cutting — we can fly under the radar a bit more. It's heavily scouted on the dodgers, so the backside doesn't always get enough attention."
And Ryan has made defenses pay for it, most recently lighting up the scoreboard with a career-high six goals in the Buffs' 17-5 win over Towson.
The jump from last season to this one hasn't been accidental.
Ryan started 15-of-16 games in 2025 and had spurts of scoring, ending the season on a six-game goal-scoring streak. That streak has now been extended to nine straight games, with no stop in sight.
Ryan points to two major improvements: communication and repetition.
"Honestly, just my communication out there is a big one," she admitted. "And working with other people. But yeah, just a lot of reps this summer, just getting shots off."
The extra reps show up in her decisiveness. Ryan's 10 goals have come on just 14 shots on goal this season, clicking at 82.4% so far this season.
Her communication fits Colorado's rhythm — an offense that looks to have found its comfort zone following the dismantling of the Tigers.
Now, the Buffaloes take that confidence on the road for a two-game swing through New York, meaning a homecoming of sorts for Katonah, N.Y.'s own Ryan and the Buffs' six other New York natives.
"It's definitely well known that we have a pretty awesome fan base between all our parents," Ryan emphasized. "The East Coast is going to be a huge trip. Not only are all our parents going to fly out or drive down, but extended family and everything. I think vibes are going to be really high."
First up is a ranked matchup with No. 18 Stony Brook on Thursday. Colorado and the Seawolves met last year in a low-scoring 7-6 affair in Boulder, marking CU's only win in the three-game history.
Thursday will be the Buffs' second road contest against a ranked opponent. After shocking No. 2 Northwestern to open the season and stringing quality wins together against Cornell and Towson, Colorado believes this start isn't a fluke.
"I have the most confidence in our team," Ryan underscored. "Against Northwestern, we felt the pressure. We wanted to rise to that and prove to everyone that it wasn't a one-time thing — that we're here for a reason."
Ryan's hot start reinforces that message. And if the first few games are any indication, she's just getting started.
Thursday's game will get underway at LaValle Stadium at 4 p.m. MT 12:30 p.m. MT (originally set for 4 p.m. MT and changed on Wednesday) and will be streamed on FloCollege.
For more information on Colorado Lacrosse, please visit cubuffs.com/wlax. Fans of the Buffs can follow @cubuffswlax on Instagram, X, TikTok, and Facebook.
