Rochester Knighthawks goaltender Pat O'Toole and Albany Attack defenseman Jim Moss have claimed the National Lacrosse League's backfield awards, named today as the league's Goaltender and Defenseman of the Year, respectively.

Also, the league awarded its Sportsmanship Award to Toronto Rock forward Chris Driscoll.

O'Toole was the goaltender of record in ten of Rochester's twelve wins this season, including the team's entire five-game winning streak leading up to the playoffs. He led the league in save percentage (78.3) and placed second among starting netminders in goals against average (10.20).

O'Toole, who will lead the Knighthawks into the NLL Champion's Cup final Saturday night against Toronto, also scooped up 151 loose balls and dished out 18 assists on the season.

Moss led an Attack defensive unit which allowed just 191 goals this season (11.94 per game) and killed 59.0 percent of all opposing power plays, fourth-best in the twelve-team league for both categories.

Moss often drew the opposition's top scorer, earning the nickname "The Eraser" by frequently limiting that player's offensive production. He also came up the floor in transition enough times to score eleven goals and assist on five others.

Driscoll, who played most of the season with the New York Saints before a mid-March trade, won the sportsmanship award by posting an impressive 81 points this season, on 30 goals and 51 assists -- without being called for a single penalty all year.

Driscoll recorded all of his goals and most of his assists with New York, where he was one of a handful of veterans on a rookie-heavy team which finished 3-13. During that time, the eleven-year veteran earned an Overall Player of the Week award and was named the NLL's Player of the Month for February.

The league's awards are voted on by the governors, general managers, and head coaches of the twelve member clubs.

Awards Week continues tomorrow with the announcement of the Coach of the Year, General Manager of the Year, and Executive of the Year awards. Yesterday, the Rookie of the Year and the all-Rookie team were named.