Yale Erases 6 Deficits, Nearly Pulls Off Win

NEW HAVEN, CONN. – The Yale men's lacrosse team played another thrilling game this weekend against an impressive Albany team, and the Elis fought to the very end before falling just shy of victory beyond regulation time.

The Bulldogs went down six separate times, but bounced back each time, completing the comeback with just five seconds remaining in regulation. A goal in overtime for Albany, however, allowed the visitors to escape Reese Stadium with a 14-13 OT win over the Elis.

Ben Reeves led the offense for Yale, posting three goals in the comeback effort. Jason Alessi notched two, while goals from Michael Bonacci and Jeff Cimbalista helped the Elis force overtime in the final minutes of the game.

The Elis (10-2) stayed with one of the nation's hottest (7 straight wins) teams without the services of captain Michael Quinn, who suffered an injury in the second quarter and was not able to return to lead the defense.

The Great Danes (10-2) held possession late in the game, as calls for a stall warning echoed in the crowd as they made no attempt to shoot on net. With less than 30 seconds left, the Bulldogs eventually forced a turnover, and began the clearing attempt, needing a goal to draw level. Michael Keasey carried the ball into the offensive zone, and instead of firing a shot on net, lobbed a pass over the entire defense to Jeff Cimbalista. The junior jumped up to receive the pass, and upon landing immediately prepared to launch a desperation shot. He fired it high, and it flew just under the crossbar to tie the game with five seconds remaining in regulation.

In the OT period, Yale gained the first possession of the game, and their best chance came off a Cimbalista shot that hit Albany goalie Blaze Riordan. A second shot from Keasey was saved by Riordan, allowing the Great Danes to clear the ball. They would then score on their only offensive opportunity of the extra period.

Senior Jonathan Reese won the opening face-off to give Yale the first possession of the game. A shot by Jack Tigh from the point tested Albany goalie Blaze Riordan early, but the senior made the first save of the game, and the change in possession led to a quick Albany goal. Jason Alessi fired a rocket from distance on the ensuing Yale possession, but that too was saved. The Great Danes then added two goals in two trips to their offensive zone to take a 3-0 lead midway through the first quarter.

Conor Mackie took over at the face-off position after the third goal by Albany, and made his presence known immediately. After picking up the loose ball from the X, the sophomore outran two defenders to take the ball into the offensive zone. Instead of passing it off, he called his own number, and took advantage of the open lane to the net. He finished high past Riordan to cut the lead down to two.

Mackie then won the following face-off to give the Bulldogs another offensive opportunity. After some passing around the perimeter, Conor's brother Brendan swung toward the middle of the zone with the ball. His defender slipped on the turf, and the freshman was left with a clear look on net. He took advantage, and launched a shot low to cut the Albany lead in half.

Another face-off win gave Yale a third straight offensive opportunity. After Joseph Sessa drew the eyes of the defense, Reeves was left with space. The sophomore wrapped around the net, and finished from his right side to to erase what was once a three-goal deficit. Reeves continued his goal streak, as he has now scored in every game this season. The Great Danes scored late in the first quarter, but after one they held onto a narrow 4-3 lead.

The Bulldogs earned another chance on offense to equalize again early in the second quarter. Reeves held possession while retreating away from net along the goal-line extended. The lobbed a pass through traffic, as it sailed over the sticks of three Albany defenders, falling right to Michael Bonacci. The senior, left with room in front of him, jumped and fired to the right of Riordan's stick, and the score was level once again.

Albany then scored to regain the lead for the third time, as the Elis were forced to come back from behind once again. Within minutes, the team had another answer. After more passing in the offensive zone to develop a play, Alessi received the ball with a defender at the point. He sprinted to the right side of net, and his speed gave him a half-step lead. He then unleashed a cannon, and the ball flew into the top left corner of the net, and the teams were level at five.

The Bulldogs stuffed the next Albany opportunity, after a shot by the Great Danes appeared to hit the post. The Albany shooter and his sideline protested that it should be called a goal. Quinn eventually collected the groundball, but after moving behind his net to find space, he was tripped up and immediately grabbed his leg. The teams exchanged words as unsportsmanlike penalties were called on both teams, but all eyes were on Quinn. The senior All-American walked off under his own power, but appeared on the sidelines with crutches.

On the next offensive chance, the Elis looked to take advantage of fewer players on the field. Tigh held possession behind the Albany net, stalling while the other attackmen continued their off-ball movement. The freshman used a move seen often by Reeves, as he wrapped around towards the face of net with the defender trailing. He whipped his stick around to fire a shot from his right side, and the ball sailed in to give Yale their first lead of the game. Albany then netted two goals in the final 90 seconds of the half, but the Bulldogs went into the locker room down only one goal, as they trailed 7-6.

The statistics at halftime were relatively balanced between the two teams. Both teams had 17 shots, and while 12 of them were on target for the Elis, Riordan's six saves prevented Yale from taking advantage of their chances. Yale, coming off a below average week from the face-off position, was winning at a higher percentage, due mainly to Conor Mackie's impressive first quarter impressive from the center X.

Sophomore Phil Huffard, who started the game in net, was replaced at the half by Hoyt Crance. The freshman only allowed six goals in two games a few weeks ago when Huffard was injured, and returned to the crease for the final two quarters of Saturday's contest. Albany quickly scored after a fast break to open up the third quarter, but Crance made a save on the ensuing chance for Albany, stopping their free possession. The Great Danes would score on their extra-man opportunity to take a quick 9-6 lead early in the second half.

By this point, however, the Bulldogs were used to facing a deficit, and they found a response within minutes. After a stop and clear, the offensive unit spread out in the zone to create distance between the defenders. Passing around the perimeter, Alessi received the ball at the point, 10 yards away from net. Given his position relative to the goal, he was left with space in front of him, and he decided to fire a shot from distance, and it flew in to the goal. Alessi notched his third of the game, a season-high, and brought the Bulldogs within two.

On the next possession, Reeves was once again left isolated with a defender behind net. He wrapped around, as he has done in nearly every game this season, but instead held back a shot from his right side. This caught the Albany defender off-guard, allowing Reeves to turn around to his left and quickly fire into the top left corner, pulling the Elis within one. Two quick Albany goals by the Great Danes, however, gave them their third three-goal lead of the day with six minutes to play in the third quarter.

The offense continued to put on the pressure in the final minutes of the quarter, and got results because of it. First, a set play resulted in Keasey holding the ball to the right of the point. The senior, held without a goal in the first half, made a run towards net, absorbing a check from his left side. As he fell to the ground, he put a shot on net, and he continued his goal streak as he drew the Bulldogs within two.

Later in the quarter, the Elis displayed a passing clinic, as crisp passes circled the ball around the perimeter. Tigh, at the point position with a defender close, made a quick pass to Reeves on his right. Reeves then fired from distance, and the shot hit the net low to cut the lead down to one. The scoreline carried through the rest of the quarter, as after three the Bulldogs had pulled closer, trailing 11-10.

The offensive pressure put on at the end of the third quarter continued into the early minutes of the fourth. A shot on net by Yale bounced off the knee of Riordan, resulting in a loose ball in front of net. Tigh held his ground in traffic, scooping up the loose ball and quickly finding Jeff Cimbalista. The junior released a textbook shot low, and it bounced before the crease and sailed over Riordan to tie the game at 11 with over ten minutes remaining in the quarter.

Albany scored two goals midway through the fourth quarter to take a 13-11 lead, and the Bulldogs would need two goals in the final five minutes to force overtime. They got one back with less than four to play after some impressive individual work from Michael Bonacci. The senior, behind the net with one defender, started to go to his left around next, but quickly turned and headed towards the right side of the goal-line extended. He turned and fired from his right side, and notched his second goal of the game, bringing the Elis within one.

The late goal by Cimbalista would complete the final of many comebacks for the Bulldogs. In a game where the Elis trailed by three goals on three separate occasions, they pulled together at the end of regulation to force overtime against a talented Albany squad. The defense stepped up, especially in the second half, as Hoyt Crance ended the day with seven saves. Junior Christopher Keating, who may be taking over some responsibilities if the Quinn injury persists, caused four turnovers while collecting four groundballs.

The Bulldogs have one final test before Ivy League tournament play begins in the first weekend of May. They play host to rival Harvard at Reese Stadium next Saturday, in the latter game of a lacrosse doubleheader. The game is set to begin at 3:30, and will be aired live on the Ivy League Digital Network. 

filed by Andrew Del Vecchio '19 (andrew.delvecchio@yale.edu), Yale Sports Publicity