Ross was drafted out of college in 1997 by the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer-USA. In his nine year professional career he played for the Colorado Rapids, NY/NJ MetroStars and ending his professional playing career with the Columbus Crew in 2005. His career statistics are as follows:
Professional highlights:
- 1997-2005- Games Played-192; Games Started- 155; Goals-32; Assists-42
- Twice named to Major League Soccer All Star Team – 1998 and 1999
- Named “Most Valuable Player” for Columbus Crew - 2003
- Named “Most Valuable Player” for Colorado Rapids - 1998
- 1 of 3 finalist for Major League Soccer “Goal of the Year” - 2004
- Recorded his first career hat trick against Las Angeles Galaxy – September 2004
- Major League Soccer Player of the Month – June 1998
- 1 of 3 finalists for Rookie of the Year – 1997
- Played in MLS Cup Championship as a rookie vs. DC United – 1997
- As a rookie out of Creighton University, the only collegian to declare early for the MLS, he appeared in 19 games and started 7.
US National Team:
- U17 US National Team (1991-92), U20 US National Team (1993-95), US Men’s Full National Team Pool Player (1998-2001)
College:
- Declared for the MLS college draft in 1997 after starring at Creighton University from 1994-96.
- Finished his three-year career at Creighton ranked fourth all-time in school history with 77 career points, in 63 games (all starts).
- Ranked fourth in all-time career goals with 28 and added 21 assists.
- Led Creighton to the 1996 NCAA Men's College Cup, scoring its only goal in a 2-1 loss to eventual champion St. John's in the national semifinals.
- One of 10 finalists for both the 1996 Hermann Trophy & the Missouri Athletic Club's Player of the Year.
- Named Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year in his final season with the Bluejays.
- Named to the NSCAA All-Midwest Region first team as a sophomore, after finishing fourth in the region in scoring with 31 points and tied for second with nine assists.
- Scored the game-winning goal in Creighton's 2-1 victory over Evansville in the MVC Tournament championship.
- Named to Soccer America's Freshman All-America team in his first collegiate season in 1994.
- Named MVC "Newcomer of the Year" as a freshman, starting and playing in a school freshman-record 21 matches.
Click here to view Ross Paule's Sierra Mist Goal of the Week from 2004!
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