He attended college at Princeton University, graduating in 2004 where he was a four-time All-American, including being named First Team Attack twice. Ryan led the Tigers to three NCAA Final Four appearances, two National title games and a National Championship in 2001. He finished his career with 70 goals and 162 assists good for 232 total points.
Boyle played box lacrosse in the NLL for the San Jose Stealth (2005–2006), New York Titans (2007–2009), and Orlando Titans (2010). He has also played field lacrosse in the MLL for the Philadelphia Barrage (2004–2008) and Boston Cannons (2009–present). Boyle was selected 3rd overall by the Stealth in the 2004 National Lacrosse League entry draft. In 2005, he was named NLL Rookie of the Year. He won the rookie scoring title. He participated in the 2005 and 2007 National Lacrosse League All-Star Games. In the January 20, 2007 first box lacrosse game played at Madison Square Garden, he scored two goals and two assists, but made more news off the field when he was photographed signing autographs for Cody Lohan and his picture appeared on Perez Hilton's blog. He was picked 8th in the 2010 Orlando Titans dispersal draft by the Philadelphia Wings. Boyle also played box lacrosse in the National Lacrosse League (NLL) for seven years before being released by the Philadelphia Wings in 2011.
Boyle was named 2004 Major League Lacrosse Rookie of the Year, and he has helped lead the Philadelphia Barrage to win MLL Steinfeld Cup Championships in 2004, 2006, and 2007. In the 2004 championship game against the Boston Cannons, he helped break a 6–6 tie with one of the goals giving Philadelphia an 8–6 halftime lead on the way to their 13–11 victory. In the 2006 MLL championship game, he assisted on an early goal by Justin Smith. He has made other MLL playoff appearances. In the 2008 MLL semifinals, Boyle scored two goals and had three assists in the Philadelphia Barrage 16–15 overtime loss to the Rochester Rattlers. In the 2010 MLL semifinals, Boyle scored two goals for the Boston Cannons in the 13–9 loss to the Chesapeake Bayhawks. The following season, he helped lead the Cannons to their first league championship, while earning his fourth.