NORTHFIELD, Vt. - Alex Johnston (Franklin, Tenn.) gave the Norwich University men's lacrosse team the go-ahead in the waning minutes, helping the Cadets usurp Lasell University, 10-9, in a rematch of last season's Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Championship on Sabine Field on Tuesday afternoon.

Johnston had a career day, drilling in five goals between the pipes while dishing out a pair of helpers to finish with seven points.  Tyler Seidel (Centreville, Md.) added two scores, while Matt Meehan (Norfolk, Mass.), Luke Pineo (Cotuit, Mass.), and Mitchell McKay (Lynnfield, Mass.) each logged a goal.

Both teams struggled to separate themselves from one another in the opening half, as both defenses stood firm until the Lasers' Ryan Stone finally found the first opening at the 9:50 mark.  McKay quickly answered to knot the contest up, before Johnston found Pineo for a goal minutes later that handed Norwich its first lead of the contest.

Lasell would take three different one-goal leads over the first and second quarters, with the Lasers taking their final edge at 7:06 on the clock on a Casey Hart bullet.  The Cadets offense exploded, rolling for five-straight goals, including three in a row where Christian Masonius (Belmar, N.J.) found Johnston.  Meehan closed out the 5-0 spurt off a Seidel pass, granting the Cadets a 9-5 lead.

The Lasers did not go quietly, however, as Landon Reyes scored three-straight and Nate Taggart ripped in the equalizer on a man-up opportunity to tie the game with six and a half minutes left.  Both teams exchanged opportunities, before Johnston tore a shot past a Lasell defender and just between Michael Catalano and the post in the waning minutes.  Luke Boland (Tolland, Conn.) and Norwich's defense held firm, as Norwich secured a crucial GNAC victory.

Lasell owned an advantage in shots (38-26), but Norwich won 12 face offs while holding a dominant edge in ground balls (44-31).  Boland logged 11 saves en route to earning one of the most pivotal victories of his career.

Norwich will close out the three-game home-stand on Saturday, Apr. 22, hosting the University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) with a 1:00 p.m. duel.  Prior to game time, the Cadets will honor five seniors in Anthony Larson (Leominster, Mass.), Callum Jones (Burlington, Ontario), John Markle, Maxwell McKay, and Sara Gosselin.