NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The No. 10 Yale men's lacrosse team improved to 5-0 at Reese Stadium on Sunday afternoon as the Bulldogs used a huge fourth quarter and a career performance from rookie Leo Johnson to get past UAlbany, 17-13.
 
Yale came out hot with the first three goals of the game and led at the half, 10-8, but the Great Danes scored four-straight at the end of the third quarter to take a 12-11 lead into the final period.
 
It was all Elis from there however as Yale outscored UAlbany, 6-1, in the fourth quarter. Rookie attackman Leo Johnson had his best collegiate performance as he tied a career best with four goals and set new personal bests with five assists and nine points.
 
Johnson scored off the feed from Matt Brandau for the first goal of the game and then assisted on Brandau's score early in the fourth quarter which put Yale up 13-12 and gave the Bulldogs a lead they would not surrender.
 
"This is always a big rivalry game. I was really impressed with UAlbany, especially on just 48 hours rest. They gave us everything we could handle." said Andy Shay, Forst Family Head Coach of Men's Lacrosse. "I'm glad we could clean up the turnovers in the fourth quarter and get the win."
 
UAlbany held game advantages in shots and groundballs but Yale owned the edge in the fourth in both categories and held the Great Danes to just four shot attempts in the final frame.
 
Johnson's nine-point performance was followed closely by Brandau who had four goals and three assists. The duo was also joined by rookie Chris Lyons and junior Thomas Bragg who each had hat tricks. Bragg got his ninth and 10^th man-up goals of the season while Lyons captured his fifth hat trick in just seven career games.
 
Senior captain Brian Tevlin, rookie long-stick midfielder Jack Stuzin and sophomore midfielder Jack Hackler all added scores with seniors Christian Cropp and Luke Eschbach, junior Kyle Zawadzki and rookie Christian Johnson each adding assists.
 
Hackler had a strong game with two points on a goal and an assist along with two caused turnovers and two ground balls.
 
In goal, Jared Paquette improved to 8-3 overall and made eight saves as he faced 42 shots from the Great Danes.
 
Yale continues a three-game home stretch in just seven days to close the 2022 regular season against local foe Quinnipiac on Tuesday, April 26 at 7 p.m., inside Reese Stadium.