Contests

Yale won the first meeting in 1925. Since then, however, the series has been dominated by Maryland, which has captured the last nine contests - including the last five in College Park. The No. 14 Bulldogs (8-3) are enjoying a five-game winning streak during which they've won two in overtime and one by two goals. Senior attackman Kirby Zdrill entered the week leading Division I in shooting percentage (61.8 percent) and is third on the team in goals (22). The No. 6 Terps (8-2) have cooled off since beginning the season with six consecutive wins, splitting their last four contests.

When Paul Makuchal won the 39th annual Maryland Migratory Game Bird Stamp Design Contest last month, he didn't think about it being his third win. He was humbled. “It was a great surprise when I won. It's a pretty competitive art contest,” said Makuchal, 36, of Pocomoke City. “There are a lot of good artists in Maryland and a couple of them have won the federal contest, which is a really prestigious prize. So it's definitely an honor to win in a state that has a really competitive field of artists.” Makuchal with his painting “Peaceful Swim,” inspired by a photograph of a lesser scaup, a species of North American diving duck.

A pharmaceutical company, a corporate-data analytics firm and a lighting company learned Monday night that they won the top prizes at the state's inaugural competition for start-up firms — $100,000 each. The InvestMaryland Challenge drew entries from nearly 260 companies nationwide, a pool that was narrowed earlier this month to nine finalists. Organizers kept the winners' names under wraps until the awards ceremony at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, leaving the companies in suspense until Gov. Martin O'Malley announced them to the crowd, Oscars-style.

Washington College's 15-10 setback to Dickinson last Saturday was a double whammy of sorts. Not only were the Shoremen unable to avenge last year's loss to the Red Devils in the Centennial Conference tournament, but they also found out that they are likely frozen out of the top two seeds in the upcoming league tournament. With a 4-2 record in the Centennial, Washington (10-2) fell two games behind Dickinson (12-0) and Franklin & Marshall (9-3), which share identical 5-0 league records.

Soroptimist International of Havre de Grace, presenter of the 50th annual Havre de Grace Art Show, has announced the winner of the poster contest for original art created to highlight this year's event. Michael McMillion, of Bel Air, was presented an award of $300 by Soroptimist Club member and chairman of the Art Show, Cindy Height, for his entry. Soroptimist International expresses thanks to those who participated in the contest. The Havre de Grace Art Show has a call to entry for this year's show with a deadline of April 15. Proceeds from the show benefit scholarships and community service.

The Mount St. Mary's team that pulled off impressive victories over Bucknell and Delaware in February seems like a distant memory now. That's because the Mountaineers have dropped their last four contests, including opening play in the Northeast Conference with back-to-back losses to Sacred Heart and Quinnipiac. The team's numbers have precipitously declined since diving into the conference schedule. The offense is averaging more than three goals fewer (6.5 goals from 10.7), the defense is just as porous (13 goals from 13.3)

Things did not look appealing for St. Mary's when the team opened March with three losses in four contests to fall to 2-4. Since then, however, the program has strung together seven consecutive wins - a run it hasn't enjoyed since 2006. The Seahawks are 9-4 overall and 4-0 in the Capital Athletic Conference, but coach Chris Hasbrouck did his best to downplay any fervor as they prepare for No. 6 Salisbury (12-3, 5-0) this Saturday and York (11-3, 3-1) next Saturday. “We've just been plugging away,” he said Thursday morning.

In conjunction with the city's big War of 1812 Bicentennial Celebration May 3 to 5, Havre de Grace Main Street Inc. is sponsoring a storefront window display contest. Downtown business owners and owners of vacant storefronts are being urged to enter the contest, which carries $500 in total prizes. The theme is the commemoration of the attack on Havre de Grace by the marauding British, which occurred on May 3, 1813. Theme and period windows should be up no later than May 2 at 5 p.m., according to the Havre de Grace Main Street website, and extra points will be given for period dress of any contestant's staff.

Et cetera IronBirds holding contest to find new PA announcer The Aberdeen IronBirds, the short-season Single-A affiliate of the Orioles, announced a search for a new public address announcer for Ripken Stadium. "The Voice" of Ripken Stadium is an online contest allowing competitors to submit an audition video and engage in a public voting process. Finalists will be invited to perform live at Ripken Stadium on May 4 in front of a judging panel during the IronBirds' FanFest.