The Cooldown: Kirst's Greatness, Duke's Magic and Surprising UMass

When you’re picked as the national preseason player of the year, as C.J. Kirst was by USA Lacrosse Magazine, it’s hard enough to live up to the expectations. But how about surpassing them?

Kirst has been simply lights out this season, scoring five goals with two assists on Saturday as Cornell bounced back from its only loss by beating No. 2 Princeton 15-10.

Kirst leads one of the nation’s most feared offenses with 40 points (28 goals, 12 assists) in just six games. He’s been shooting at a tremendous clip (54.9 percent), constantly playing in the flow of the game without forcing the issue.

He’s scored multiple goals in every game and had assists in all but one game – when he had six goals in a season-opening win against Lehigh.

This year’s success is further cementing his legacy at one of the sport’s storied programs. Kirst’s fourth goal of the game against Princeton broke Hall of Famer Mike French’s school record of 191 career goals – set in 1976. He passed reigning PLL MVP Jeff Teat for No. 3 on Cornell’s all-time points list, now sitting at 270 with only three-time Team USA player Rob Pannell (354) and French (296) ahead of him.

This has been a golden era of attackmen in college lacrosse – Notre Dame’s Pat Kavanagh, Duke’s Brennan O’Neill and Virginia’s Connor Shellenberger were all Tewaaraton finalists in both 2023 and 2024 – and Kirst stands right alongside the legends. He was a Tewaaraton finalist in 2023 when he was named the nation’s top attackman over that trio by the USILA.

He’s already won two medals with the U.S. national teams – a gold with the U21 team in 2022 in Limerick, Ireland and silver with the box team in 2024 in Utica, N.Y.

We’re witnessing history, and greatness, each time he steps on the field. Enjoy it.