Although they might not have accomplished all they desired in their five years at Duke, midfielder Brad Ross and defenseman Ryan McFadyen were two integral forces in making the program a lacrosse powerhouse.
Now, after completing their Duke careers as fifth-year seniors, they have a chance to continue their quest for a championship in Major League Lacrosse. Ross was drafted 15th by the Toronto Nationals, and McFadyen 33rd to the Washington Bayhawks.
"Brad is a terrific two-way middie who had a great career at Duke," Nationals head coach Dave Huntley said. "The up-tempo style he played at Duke should allow him to fit smoothly into our style at the Nationals."
McFadyen and Ross entered Duke in 2004 following a season in which the Blue Devils finished 5-8 and failed to qualify for the NCAA Tournament. The next year, though, Duke finished with a 13-1 record in the regular season and lost a heartbreaker to Johns Hopkins in the national championship game.
That first season at Duke is still a memorable one for Ross.
"We had no expectations before the season of getting [to the Final Four]," Ross said. "But we came together as a team and played well."
Following this dramatic reversal, the Blue Devils held higher and higher expectations for themselves every year.
But a national championship banner has yet to hang on the fences of Koskinen Stadium, and that mising title still stings McFadyen.
"We went to four Final Fours," McFadyen said. "But I would've liked to put one away and win the last game of the season to get the national championship."
On an individual level, both McFadyen and Ross accumulated various personal honors to match the success of the squad.
Perhaps the most impressive achievement is Ross's NCAA record of 72 career wins, supported by three All-America awards. McFadyen was named to the ACC-All-Academic team in 2007.
Both players were excited about having the unique ability to extend their careers.
"Everyone wishes that somehow this could be a life and a career," Ross said. "When we were younger we didn't think there would be any opportunity to play after college, so it's exciting to be able to play."
McFadyen echoed Ross's sentiment about the opportunity to play professionally.
"There are a lot of great players who play in the MLL currently," McFadyen said. "Just getting drafted for me was a big surprise. So if I can go out, have a good time, and do anything positive to help win a couple games for my team, that would be a great contribution to the Bayhawks."
As these stalwarts of Duke lacrosse continue with their professional careers, they have left a sturdy program behind.
"We hope that we have put the team on the road to a championship," Ross said "Hopefully we set the stage for one in a couple of years."
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