NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- Both senior CJ Kirst and sophomore Ryan Goldstein recorded double-digit point efforts and the fourth-ranked Cornell men's lacrosse team improved to 2-0 in Ivy League play with a 19-14 victory over Yale on Saturday afternoon at Reese Stadium. The Big Red improved to 6-1, while the Bulldogs slipped to 1-5 (0-2 Ivy).

Kirst scored nine times and Goldstein was credited with eight assists, both totals serving as career highs and just one off the single-game school record for an offense that was humming. Kirst tallied six times in the first quarter alone and caused a pair of turnovers while winning three ground balls. Michael Long added two goals and two assists, Willem First and Danny Caddigan both scored twice and Hugh Kelleher reached the 100-point mark for his career with an assist. 

Cornell had strong efforts in every phase of the game, as Jack Cascadden was 17-of-31 at the faceoff X, and both Jayson Singer and Brendan Staub caused a pair of turnovers in front of Wyatt Knust, who made 13 saves. Cornell held a narrow 51-45 edge in shots on the afternoon. 

Chris Lyons led the Yale offense with five goals, while Brad Sharp had a goal and four assists. David Anderson registered a hat trick, with Leo Johnson being credited with a goal and three helpers. Machado Rodriguez was 13-of-25 on faceoffs with nine ground balls, with goalkeepers Hugh Conrad and Jared Paquette making 14 combined saves in the loss. 

Goldstein found Kirst for scores three times in the game's first 3:48 to set the tone, and though Cornell gradually pulled away, it needed their efforts and more. Four times in the game Goldstein found Kirst for a score, and the duo reversed it to close out the contest with just seven seconds left to seal the victory. 

Kirst's nine goals is tied with John Wurzburger's effort against Dartmouth in 1989 and one behind the 10 Bob Brennan tallied vs. Penn in 1940 and Chris Danler matched vs. Army in 1995. Three Cornellians have previously had nine assists and share the record - Dick Shriver against Colgate in 1955 and Ryan's father, Tim Goldstein, who had nine-assist games twice - once  at Syracuse in 1987 and again the following year vs. Dartmouth.

NEXT UP
• The Cornell men's lacrosse team returns home to face nationally-ranked Penn on Saturday, March 29 at 12 p.m. at Schoellkopf Field.
• The contest will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
• Cornell leads the all-time series 67-29-3, though the Quakers have won four of five and six of the last eight meetings.
• The Quakers swept last season's two meetings, including a 13-9 win over the Big Red on Schoellkopf in the Ivy League Tournament semifinals .