When the Atlanta Blaze entered Major League Lacrosse in 2016, the team also had the first pick in the collegiate draft. It selected midfielder Myles Jones out of Duke, considered the crown jewel of the draft class.

Jones played two games for the Blaze before the team traded him to the Chesapeake Bayhawks. Atlanta went 4-10 that season, finishing eighth in the league standings.

“It was frustrating,” Atlanta Blaze general manager Spencer Ford said about the early Blaze seasons. “It was horrible at times.”

Four seasons later, the Blaze did not have a pick in the first round of the collegiate draft. Still, due to unforeseen circumstances, the team acquired the league’s top draft pick, Alex Woodall.

In another change of circumstance, the Blaze finished in the top four of the league and earned its first trip to the MLL playoffs.

Ford, a Towson graduate, signed Towson rookies Woodall and Brendan Sunday, a second-round draft pick. After a strong first season that saw both players earn All-Star selections, the rookies now look to add an MLL championship to their impressive professional resumes.

“It would mean a lot [to win the championship],” Woodall said. “I’m really close with Spencer Ford, and he drafted and picked up a lot of the players on the team. I saw how much it meant to him getting to the playoffs. If I could help him and help the whole team out, it would be a good feeling.”

Woodall was selected first overall by the Ohio Machine. When the Machine ceased operations, however, Woodall was left without a team. He was acquired by the Blaze in the MLL Rookie Selection, where players drafted by the Machine, Charlotte Hounds, and Florida Launch, as well as other rookies not previously drafted were made available for the remaining six teams in the league.

As a senior at Towson, Woodall finished every game in his senior season with a faceoff winning percentage greater than 50 percent and was second in the nation in face-off winning percentage.

Despite his success in college, Woodall admitted adjusting to life in professional lacrosse was a challenge. Without having practice every day and up against a higher level of talent on a routine basis, Woodall struggled at first.

He noted, however, the moment he believed he could compete and make an impact in Major League Lacrosse.

“One of the best games I’ve had, it was the second game of the year going against Max Adler, who had the highest percentage the year before,” Woodall said. “I lost in the first game to him by a few. In the second game, I didn’t crush him, but I beat him, and I knew there I would be able to do well. In my second game, beating someone percentage-wise like Max, once I realized that I was like, ‘Ok, I’m good. I’ve just got to win and stick to what I’m doing.’”

It took Sunday a little longer than the second game to put it all together, but he, too, would eventually find success, realizing his “Welcome to the League” moment in a July 6 game against the Chesapeake Bayhawks.

“Randy [Staats] got ejected from that game. I was able to slide back to attack. I scored a few goals and had a couple assists,” he said. “I wasn’t as comfortable at midfield, but there’s so many great players [on Atlanta’s roster]. I wasn’t touching the ball as much, and my role changed. Going back to attack sparked me back into being me. I was too passive.”

The two rookies from Towson have developed a strong chemistry. On the field, Woodall pointed out that the majority of his assists have gone to Sunday, and off the field, the road roommates have leaned on each other as they have navigated their new challenge of professional lacrosse.

“I’m joining a new team,” Sunday said. “I don’t know these guys. For the most part, I didn’t get to play with or against these guys in college, especially on offense. Mine and his relationship blossomed our senior year. It’s great to have that person to lean on and ask how you’re adjusting to the game. It’s nice to have someone familiar you know.”

Woodall finished his first MLL season second in the league with a 50 percent faceoff winning percentage and a league-best 140 ground balls.

Sunday finished sixth on Atlanta with 35 points on 24 goals and 11 assists.

Both played in the MLL All-Star game, where Sunday scored the game-winning goal in overtime.

“It was wild,” Sunday said. “I was playing attack with two of the best players to play the game with John Grant Jr. and Lyle Thompson. It was surreal. I used to watch John Grant Jr. highlights on YouTube. I watched a lot of Thompson Brothers. It was a cool moment and one I will remember the rest of my lacrosse career.”

The longer the season goes on for both Woodall and Sunday, the more uncharted territory they encounter. Both players are excited for the championship weekend in Denver, but not many players on the roster have playoff experience.

The only player on the Blaze to have won a championship is Tommy Palasek, and they both said he has made sure to make his voice heard leading up to championship weekend.

“Tom’s been sending out group chats and tells us how fun it is,” Woodall said. “He’s been stressing how important this is.”

“He texted me today about it asking if I was ready to go,” Sunday added. “I’ll definitely be picking his brains. Every championship game seems to start slow. Everyone is nervous, and then things pick up. I’ll be in his ear.”

Both Woodall and Sunday have enjoyed their rookie seasons, and both have been big contributors to the success the Atlanta Blaze have experienced in the 2019 season.

Both players are excited for the opportunity to play in the playoffs, and a championship would eb the perfect capstone for a couple of impressive first seasons.

“It’s all coming together now,” Sunday said. “Making the playoffs for the first time is great, but our aspirations are much higher. It’s a testament to our coaches, all our guys, Spence, our trainers. They put in a bunch of effort and put in a lot behind the scenes. It would be special for everyone involved. Excitement is in the air.”

“There are players who are All-Stars who have never been to the playoffs,” Woodall added. “It’ll be something to tell my kids about.”