McClay is one of just four Cornell men's lacrosse players to earn All-America honors in each of his four seasons with the Big Red, garnering first-team honors in 2002 and 2003. As a senior, he became just the fifth defenseman in the history of the Ivy League to be named the conference Player of the Year. A three-time first-team All-Ivy selection, he was a unanimous choice twice. McClay was a candidate for the Tewaaraton Trophy as a senior, given to the best lacrosse player in the nation, and he finished the year with 58 ground balls, after scooping a career-high 73 as a junior. He served as one of the Big Red's tri-captains as both a junior and senior. As a senior, McClay shared the Charles H. Moore Outstanding Senior Varsity Athlete. McClay was a member of the U.S. national team at the 2002 Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) World Championships in Perth, Australia, where he helped the U.S. earn a gold medal, McClay was named to the All-World team and was further honored as the tournament's most valuable defender. After being selected as an alternate for the 2006 games, McClay again represented the U.S. in 2010 and earned a second gold medal and another selection to the All-World team. Following graduation from Cornell, he was taken fifth overall in the 2003 Major League Lacrosse draft by the New Jersey Pride. He enjoyed an eight-year professional career with both the Pride and the Boston Cannons where he saw action in 91 games and picked up 371 ground balls. He also handed out 10 assists and scored four goals.Â
