PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — One of the greatest collegiate lacrosse players in the history of the sport now plays for Philadelphia’s professional team.
It was a whirlwind 2025 for CJ Kirst. He became the all-time leading scorer in NCAA Men’s Lacrosse. He scored a single-season record-tying 82 goals, including six in the national title game, earning Cornell University its first championship in nearly half a century. He won the Tewaaraton Trophy as the sport’s best player, and that brought him to the Philadelphia Waterdogs of the Premier Lacrosse League.
“Such a special year. Couldn’t be prouder of doing it with my best friends, every step of the way,” Kirst said, adding that he’s excited to be playing with a new team and a new locker room.
“Trying to find my role in helping the team. You’re trying to do whatever it takes to win and to bounce ideas off of the coaching staff and the veterans on the team.”
But it’s very different from a college locker room. The team as a whole only comes together for weekend games, forcing players to keep themselves disciplined in training throughout the week.
“That’s the part of being a professional, that everyone trusts you to do your job to make sure that you’re game-ready,” Kirst said. “So yeah, it’s a little bit of an adjustment, not being in the locker room and seeing everyone every single day, but I’m doing whatever it takes to make sure that I’m playing and performing at my best.”
And when he’s not training, Kirst and his brothers are growing the game on the ground level through coaching.
“I have three older brothers who play in the league, and one younger brother who plays at Rutgers. We’re always trying to teach the kids in the New Jersey area and show that love for the game. I think that’s such a huge part of being a professional lacrosse player.”