Growing up in a state where lacrosse is not a major high school sport, it is unusual for an athlete to reach the level of DU’s Ryan Zordani. The Pioneer senior and Littleton native was recently named as a preseason All-American by Inside Lacrosse magazine.

This may seem surprising that a Colorado player can rise to the top of the East Coast-dominated sport of college lacrosse, Zordani’s achievements are even more impressive when one learns that he hadn’t even picked up a lacrosse stick until he was in his freshman year of high school.

“I grew up playing baseball in the spring, and it wasn’t until my freshman year of high school that I ended up playing lacrosse,” said Zordani, who was a very talented multi-sport athlete growing up. “I first knew about [lacrosse] in eight grade, but didn’t know enough about it to get me to start up and play.”

For a high school athlete to drastically change to a sport that he had no previous experience in playing would seem to be a strange move, but, for Zordani, it was the move that he needed.

“I had been playing baseball my whole life,” said Zordani. “I wanted a game that was more fast passed, wanted something more like football. I got tired of standing in the outfield doing nothing.”

The move proved to be more beneficial than he would have ever expected, as Zordani quickly picked up the finer nuances of the game.

While a three-sport athlete at Heritage High School in Littleton, Zordani earned letters in football and basketball as well as receiving all-state honors twice in lacrosse. During his senior season, Zordani was named a high school All-American for his outstanding efforts.

The accolades would land Zordani and opportunity that he said he could never pass up.

“[Pioneer Head] Coach Munroe offered me a great education and the program was booming,” said Zordani.

Though the chance to play lacrosse at the Division I level was very appealing to Zordani, it wasn’t the only factor that led to his joining the Pioneers.

“I love Colorado. I am from here, born and raised,” Zordani said proudly of his Colorado roots. “I love the weather; it’s close to home, close to my parents. My family and little brother still get to come watch me play, so that’s a big perk.”

Though it was an overwhelming thrill to join his hometown team and lone Division I program in the state, Zordani found that it wasn’t an easy adjustment to playing lacrosse at such a high level.

“It was a big step. Not saying that Colorado lacrosse isn’t up there [with other states], but anytime you go from high school to Division 1 lacrosse it a big jump,” Zordani said about his leap into the Pioneer line up. “Not only commitment, but the skill level and goalies were way better, so it was a big change.”

Despite the problems that he might have said about jumping to the Division I level, it is hard to notice it from his first year statistics. Zordani saw action in 13 of the Pioneers games, earning two starts. He scored seven times and finished the season with 10 points.

Zordani credits his early success to his preparation to play.

“In high school you could get away with being athletic and making plays, but in college you have to really know the game,” said Zordani. “You have to know everything you are going to do. You have to know the offenses, the defenses, you have to think fast and be able to anticipate what is going to happen.”

After his solid freshman campaign, Zordani stepped his game up another notch, as he had a break out sophomore season, finishing third on the team with 28 points on 16 goals and 12 assists.

Zordani topped his sophomore season by leading the Pioneers in scoring last season during his junior year. He scored 19 goals and dished out 20 assists in earning Great Western Lacrosse League Second-Team accolades.

Through all the success that Zordani has had, he faces one of his biggest challenges this season as he has had to switch positions from attack to midfield.

“I got moved to midfield, and I have played attack for the last seven years of my life,” said Zordani about the switch. “So that’s the biggest thing now is that I need to know offense, defense and everything.”

However, the switch hasn’t kept Zordani from his now usual scoring prowess or from setting high goals for himself and his team.

“As a team, our goal is to win a national championship,” said Zordani, who has three goals in the Pioneers’ first three games despite the position switch. “We have been working harder than we ever have, and there is no where else to aim. You have to aim for the best, so of course a national championship.”

As far as personal goals, Zordani is aiming just as high.

“Personal, is to be MVP of the team in anyway that it is possible,” said Zordani, whose main focus is helping his team win games. “Whether it’s being the guy with the most points or just being the guy that all my teammates a can rely on, I want to make the difference. Also, I would like to be player of the year for the GWLL.”

Whether or not the Pioneers and Zordani achieve these goals, he feels that his career has already been better that he could have ever hoped for.

“I wasn’t expecting to play much when I came in,” said Zordani. “But I got some playing time as a freshman, then had a very good sophomore year. Last year was a bit of a struggle, I was trying to create a new game for myself and coach was trying to get me to play a new, more physical style. But overall it’s been great.”

After the conclusion of this season, Zordani will be graduating with a degree in real estate and construction and hopes to pursue a career in one of those fields.

Zordani and the rest of the Pioneers (1-2) are in action this weekend when they host Villanova in their home opener Saturday at 1:30 p.m. MT.