Bulldogs Fall in Ivy League Opener vs. Cornell
Updated: Mar 30
Lyons and Johnson score three goals apiece to pace Yale
Game Recap: Men's Lacrosse | 3/18/2023 3:48:00 PM | Tim Bennett
NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The Yale men's lacrosse team got off to a quick start in its top-10 showdown with Cornell. The Bulldogs had a 2-0 lead before many of the big crowd at Reese Stadium had settled into their seats. The Big Red, though, had an impressive response, scoring the next eight goals of the opening quarter on its way to a 20-10 win in the Ivy League opener for both teams.
Yale (3-2, 0-1 Ivy) entered the afternoon ranked No. 8 in the nation, while Cornell was No. 7.
Chris Lyons and Leo Johnson both scored three goals apiece to lead the Bulldogs. Matt Brandau extended his streak of consecutive games with a goal to 45 when he scored early in the fourth quarter. Thomas Bragg, Machado Rodriguez and Max Krevsky also had goals.
CJ Kirst scored five times and Michael Long added three to lead the Big Red, the Ivy preseason favorite.
The Bulldogs outshot Cornell 47-40, but Cornell goalie Chayse Ierlan was strong, finishing with 21 saves. Chayse is the younger brother of former Yale faceoff standout TD Ierlan.
Goals from Krevsky and Lyons had Yale in front by two less than five minutes into the game. The Big Red quickly answered and when Kirst scored with two seconds left in the first, Cornell had an 8-2 advantage.
Lyons and Johnson pulled Yale within 8-4 early in the second, but Kirst and Long combined for the next four goals and the Big Red was in front 12-4 at halftime.
Cornell outscored the Bulldogs 4-1 in the third quarter to thwart any hopes of a Yale comeback.
The Big Red (5-1, 1-0 Ivy) advanced to the championship game of the NCAA Tournament last spring.
Next up for the Bulldogs is a trip to Princeton next Saturday. The opening faceoff is slated for 1 p.m. Yale's next home game is Apr. 4 against Boston University.