Rattlers

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - The Bayhawks' offense might strike fear into the opposition's hearts, but last night the team rode its defense to a 10-7 win over the Rochester Rattlers that earned a second straight Nationals Division championship in Major League Lacrosse. "We're happy to have that," said Bayhawks goalie Greg Cattrano, "but what we really want is the MLL championship. This is just a first step." The Bayhawks are guaranteed to play host to an MLL semifinal at Ravens Stadium, the opponent and date to be determined.

The clock was ticking, and Raheem Scott was getting desperate. Coppin State needed a basket in a bad way last night, and with a minute left in the game, things looked bleak. Scott, the Eagles' point guard, dribbled to his right, then back to his left, but everywhere he turned, he found himself surrounded by Florida A&M defenders. But out of the corner of his eye, Scott spotted teammate Darryl Roberts at the three-point line. He had told Roberts, a freshman, that he might look for him if the play broke down, and so without hesitation, Scott passed the ball in his direction.

Jermaine Hall scored 15 points in the second half as Wagner rolled past visiting Mount St. Mary's, 74-50, last night in a Northeast Conference game. Jeff Klauder scored 13 points for the Seahawks (9-6, 5-3), who built a 29-23 halftime lead. Courtney Pritchard added 11 points and Chris Jackson finished with six points and 13 rebounds. Aaron Herbert led Mount St. Mary's with 12 points. Stephen Moore had 10. Mount St. Mary's (4-12, 4-3) charged to a 10-2 lead, but managed one field goal in the final 12:58 of the first half.

If past performance is any indication, Towson's football team is in for good fortune when it travels to Delaware on Saturday for a key Atlantic 10 game. The 5-2 Tigers are unbeaten in three road games, winning at nonconference Elon, at Hofstra with a thrilling comeback engineered by quarterback Sean Schaefer, and at Villanova last weekend. They are only .500 at Johnny Unitas Stadium, although the quality of the opposition (nationally ranked Maine and Massachusetts handed them the losses)

Chico Langston and Terrence Wright were not going to let it happen again.Seven times during the regular season, Morgan State had lost by five or fewer points, twice to Florida A&M. Last night in the play-in game of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament, the eighth-seeded Bears were facing the ninth-seeded Rattlers for a third time.But, after Florida A&M made a determined run in the second half behind sophomore guard Byron Coast (game-high 28 points), Langston and Wright carried Morgan State to a 70-66 victory before 2,860 at the Bears' Hill Field House.

Philip Sylvester rushed 19 times for 202 yards and two touchdowns Saturday as Florida A&M beat Morgan State, 31-17. Sylvester scored for the Rattlers (5-3, 4-1 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) on a 14-yard run with 5:09 left in the first half, putting them ahead 17-3. Morgan State (4-4, 3-2) tied the game at 17 on a 1-yard touchdown run by Jephte Cherenfant in the third quarter and a 19-yard touchdown pass from Delonte Williams to Chuka Okakpu early in the fourth. But Williams was intercepted by Jerral Stewart with 7:17 left, and the sophomore defensive back returned it 37 yards for a touchdown, giving the Rattlers the lead for good.

Backup goaltender Mike Gabel put forth one of the finest performances of his seven-year professional career to anchor a strong defensive effort as the Rochester Rattlers knocked the Chesapeake Bayhawks from the unbeaten ranks with a 12-8 victory in front of an announced 7,853 on Saturday night at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Gabel, a backup appearing in just his fourth game for Rochester, recorded 27 saves to stymie a Chesapeake offense that scored 23 goals against the Ohio Machine the previous Saturday night.

Major League Lacrosse Bayhawks control fate after beating Rattlers Defenseman Kyle Hartzell (Salisbury) scored two goals, including a 2-pointer, to spark a second-quarter surge that lifted the Chesapeake Bayhawks to a 13-11 victory over the host Rochester Rattlers on Saturday night. The Bayhawks trailed 3-2 when Hartzell and fellow defenseman Jake Deane fueled a decisive run. The Bayhawks, who ended a two-game losing streak, now control their own fate in terms of qualifying for the Major League Lacrosse Championship Weekend.

Major League Lacrosse Bayhawks humble Rattlers on road, 13-7 The Chesapeake Bayhawks handed the Rochester Rattlers their first loss at home this season, winning, 13-7, Saturday night. The Bayhawks (8-2) never trailed and improved their record to a Major League Lacrosse-best 8-2, while the Rattlers, who are battling the Long Island Lizards for the final playoff spot, fell to 5-5. Bayhawks midfielder Michael Kimmel (Johns Hopkins) had a goal and four assists, and attackman Danny Glading added two goals and two assists.