May 26, 2025; Foxborough, MA, USA; Cornell attack CJ Kirst (15) celebrates a goal against the Maryland Terrapins during the second half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images Eric Canha
CJ Kirst had one more collegiate game before suiting up for the Philadelphia Waterdogs in the Premier Lacrosse League. It just so happened to be the biggest game of his career. here’s a close-up of CJ Kirst’s heavily bandaged right hand, he scored 6 goals while playing through injury in the NCAA Championship pic.twitter.com/eRj7KEU08d
Three years after losing to Maryland in the National Championship as a freshman, Kirst and Cornell got another shot at the Terrapins. This time, he got his revenge.
Kirst capped off his historic collegiate career with a National Championship victory. The No. 1 pick by the Waterdogs in the 2025 PLL Draft scored six goals, leading No. 1 seed Cornell to a 13-10 win over No. 2 Maryland, while earning the NCAA Tournament's Most Outstanding Player Award. Kirst completely took over, tying Paul Rabil's record for most goals in a National Championship game. He finished the year with 82 goals, which tied UAlbany's Miles Thomson (2014) and Yale's John Reese (1990) for the most goals in a single-season.
In April, he set the NCAA record for career goals, finishing with 247. For now, Kirst will have to wait to show off his talents for the Waterdogs.
On Tuesday, they placed him on the Physically Unable to Participate list. The injury wasn't specified, but rumors swirled throughout the NCAA Tournament about Kirst being banged up. Kirst's right hand was heavily wrapped, which was shown after the National Championship. Kirst likely won't play in the Waterdogs season-opener on June 6 against the Maryland Whipsnakes and his timeline for a return is unknown.
When Kirst does come back, it'll be a huge boost for the Waterdogs, who finished just 2-8 in their first season under legendary coach Bill Tierney.
Tierney took over for Andy Copelan, who led the Waterdogs to a PLL Championship game appearance in 2023, but left in Feb. 2024. Tierney, who retired in 2023 after 42 years and seven NCAA Championships as a Division I coach for both Princeton University and Denver University, took the job. ANOTHER NO.1 PICK FROM CORNELL 🐻🔥@CornellLacrosse had the BEST reaction to watching their guy @cjkirst_15 go first overall last night. pic.twitter.com/yiym7nFjDE
He found less success in his first season in the PLL, with the Waterdogs being one of two teams in the eight-team league to miss the playoffs. Despite the poor season, earning the No. 1 pick was a silver lining. A generational prospect like Kirst can instantly boost the Waterdogs back into contention. He's that good.
The concentration of talent on every team is high due to the limited number of teams. The Waterdogs aren't far off the mark. Five of their losses last season came by one goal, four of which were in overtime.
Kirst will slot in nicely alongside Michael Sowers, a former Upper Dublin High School product. Sowers, who finished with the third-most points last season (37), is one of the best attackers in the league. Kirst's brute physicality as a dodger meshes nicely with Sowers' electric speed. The two will be as formidable of a duo as any in the league.
A couple months before the draft, Tierney said multiple teams inquired about acquiring the No. 1 pick in a trade. Tierney quickly shut those down, telling each team he had no plans on moving away from the pick.
"(They'll) have to attend my funeral to get that deal done," Tierney told the PLL's Michael Bolger in March. "I have no plans on trading or moving away from our pick at this point."
It's not hard to see why Tierney felt so strongly. Kirst is a can't-miss prospect.
In his last college game with @CornellLacrosse, CJ Kirst scored SIX goals to tie the NCAA record for most goals in a season (82) "CJ Kirst is INCREDIBLE..
He also extended his NCAA career goals record to 247 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/cnD0sz6FIn
Just look at his performance in the National Championship game. Facing the best defense in the country, Kirst made it look easy. He was held in check early on, going scoreless for 27 minutes, but once he got a bounce shot from long range to go late in the first half, it was game over.
He went bananas and Cornell won their first title since 1977" ~ @BostonConnr #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/dkN0lxJK77
Kirst took the game by the scruff of the neck in the second half. He scored all three of Cornell's goals in the the third quarter, helping it take a 9-7 lead. Cornell pushed its lead to three in the fourth quarter, but Maryland scored back-to-back goals to stay in the game. That's before Kirst restored the two-goal advantage with less than seven minutes remaining.
In the final minute, Cornell led 12-10 and Kirst scored an empty-netter to seal the win for Cornell. All six of his goals were unassisted.
"He's a difference maker. He is the best player in the country," Cornell head coach Connor Buzeck said. "It's not always the points, it's not always the goals, it's not always the assists, it's how hard he competes, how much he gets out of his teammates, it's how well like he is because of the respect he gets within that room."
Kirst finished his collegiate career on top. He helped Cornell break a near-50 year drought with its first National Title since 1977. Now he'll try and lead the Waterdogs to glory for the first time in their history.
