Ryne Adolph remembers Chris Feifs and Ryan Clarke, seniors from last season’s Terrapin men’s lacrosse team, asking him why he would want to put himself through another rigorous season of conditioning and physical punishment by returning as a fifth-year player.

But for Adolph it was an easy decision.

“I told them I don’t think I’d be able to live with myself knowing I had an extra year of eligibility to use and didn’t,” Adolph said. “I thought I’d be missing out on so much and always regret it.”

Ditto for teammate Jacob Baxter.

“I wanted to get more playing time, and I had more credits to do because I spaced them out that way,” Baxter said. “Coming back for my fifth year wasn’t a question.”

Adolph and Baxter have taken similar paths through their college careers. With five years of hard work, they have emerged to take key defensive and leadership roles on this season’s Terp team.

Tomorrow they will celebrate their Senior Day at Byrd Stadium at 1 p.m. against Yale.

Although Adolph and Baxter entered the season with one start between them, they have produced for a Terp defense that needed to replace All-Americans Ray Megill and Steve Whittenberg. They’ve teamed with returning starter Joe Cinosky and freshman Max Schmidt to create a formidable defensive unit, which has allowed 7.54 goals per game.

Adolph missed the 2004 season after back surgery to repair two fractured vertebrae. Entering this season, he had played in 31 career games without a start. But he’s started 11 of the Terps’ 13 games this season and, impressively to coach Dave Cottle, has not committed a penalty.

“He was a guy that just didn’t look like he was ever going to play,” Cottle said. “He just kept outworking the competition. It was really important to him, and because it was really important to him, he made himself into a good player.”

Baxter sat out 2004 after transferring from the U.S. Air Force Preparatory School. The 6-foot-1, 230-pound defender played a career-high 16 games in 2006 and got into 13 games last season. Cottle called Baxter one of the best off-the-ball defenders he’s ever coached.

“It’s been well worth it,” Baxter said of logging five hard seasons in Cottle’s system. “It got me out on the field playing. I’m sure my body will pay for it later in life, but it’s definitely been worth it while I’ve been here.”

Their success may be tied to that patience.

After sitting out the 2004 season, they have earned increased playing time each season while learning from the Terps’ more decorated defenders.

“I said to myself, ‘Just pay my dues, do what I can to help the team during those years, and then my fifth year should be the time when I get a chance to play,'” said Adolph. “It’s been really nice.”

The team has noticed their efforts, especially the youngest member of the defense, Schmidt. The freshman praised the fifth-year seniors for teaching him communication on the field.

“They definitely treat every play like it’s their last play,” Schmidt said. “They might not have played much in the past, and they’re coming in just loving every minute of this. That’s something I respect them a lot for.”

The pair have been friends since the beginning, and Baxter moved into Adolph’s apartment this semester. Although they will be celebrating Senior Day with a different class than they came in with, Baxter said he is excited.

“It was a little bit different last year with all of our classmates graduating,” Baxter said. “It would have been special to go out with them, but it will also be special this year going out with the kids I’ve played with for four years, too.”

Adolph is just happy that he stuck around long enough to make a major contribution to the team.

“It’s basically everything I’ve ever dreamt of,” Adolph said. “When you’re a young kid, you dream of playing for programs like this. To finally get a chance to get out there and be a captain, it’s really a dream come true.”

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