Three former Sea Gulls capture MLL championship; Hartzell named MVP

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Former Salisbury University men's lacrosse All-Americans Dave Cottle and Kyle Hartzell captured the Major League Lacrosse (MLL) championship for the Chesapeake Bayhawks at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The Bayhawks defeated the Long Island Lizards 13-9 to win the franchise's third league championship.

Hartzell was named the championship weekend Most Valuable Player for his performances in the semifinal and final. In the semifinals, Hartzell held All-MLL Boston Cannon midfielder Paul Rabil scoreless as the Bayhawks defeated the Cannons 13-9. In Sunday's final, Hartzell held former Washington (Md.) College and current Lizard midfielder Stephen Berger pointless and limited him to just one shot on goal.

Hartzell, a third-team All-American for the Sea Gulls in 2007, received a check for $3,500 for being named the most valuable player at the games' conclusion. It marks the first time in the 10-year history of the league that a defenseman has been named the most valuable player.

Cottle, a 1977 first-team All-American, served as a coaching consultant for the Bayhawks after stepping down as the head men's lacrosse coach at the University of Maryland earlier this summer. Cottle is ranked second all-time in SU program history with 302 total points.

Former Sea Gull All-American attackman Chris Soper, a 1994 graduate of Salisbury, works in the front office for the Bayhawks as the Director of Sales.