PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia’s professional lacrosse team won its league title last weekend in New Jersey.
Last year, CJ Kirst scored six goals to propel Cornell to its first championship in a half-century. Last Sunday, he led the Premier Lacrosse League’s Philadelphia Waterdogs to glory with five goals and two assists.
“You obviously don’t want to treat it like just any other game, you know the stakes. Just take the moment in, and try to enjoy it, rather than be nervous and think too deeply about it,” Kirst said.
After scoring more goals than anyone in men’s D-I history, Kirst said he’s never been surrounded by players this good. So, there’s more focus on catch-and-shoot.
“A lot of my goals have been off-ball, and I think part of the reason why some of my teammates have scored is because some of us are working harder off-ball,” the League MVP said.
Philly’s defense held Denver scoreless in the second half of a 14-4 win Sunday.
“The intensity that [the defense] played at was unmatched. It really gives us confidence on the offensive side of the ball, because you know that our defense is going to do whatever it takes to get a stop,” Kirst said.
Along with leading the Waterdogs, Kirst wants to help bring the PLL to prominence. One goal is eventually dropping the current format of rotating venues each weekend, allowing each team to play more home games.
“ I definitely see us playing in Philadelphia more, and playing in front of the Philadelphia crowd. And hopefully that can happen sooner rather than later,” he said.
