ITHACA, N.Y. – Nearly a year after they helped end a 48-year National Championship drought for Cornell men's lacrosse,
CJ Kirst '25 and
Hugh Kelleher '25 helped the Toronto Rock win its first NLL Championship in 15 years with a sweep of the Halifax Thunderbirds this past weekend.
Kirst, the NLL Rookie of the Year, recorded 18 points on 11 goals and seven assists in the playoffs, including a four-goal, two-assist effort in game one and a goal and an assist in game two to help the Rock sweep the Thunderbirds. Kirst ended his rookie season with 34 goals and 37 assists.
Kelleher totaled 10 points in the NLL Playoffs, scoring four goals and assisting on six others. In the NLL Finals against Halifax, Kelleher tallied a goal and a pair of assists to help Toronto capture its first league title since 2011.
Kelleher completed the trifecta of National Championships in collegiate and pro lacrosse, winning the 2025 National Championship with Cornell, the 2025 PLL Championship with the New York Atlas and now the 2026 NLL Championship with the Rock, capping an incredible first professional season.
Kirst cemented his legacy as one of college lacrosse's all-time greats during his Cornell career. The four-time All-American and 2025 Tewaaraton Trophy winner became the NCAA's all-time career goals leader, finishing with 239. As a junior in 2023, he set the Cornell single-season record with 65 goals, earning the USILA Turnbull Award for Outstanding Attackman and a Tewaaraton finalist nod. He followed that with a 2024 campaign that drew Tewaaraton semifinalist recognition and first-team All-American honors across all three major outlets. His senior season was his finest — leading the nation in goals per game (4.22) and ranking second in points per game (6.00) while earning Ivy League Attackman of the Year honors. A six-time Ivy League Player of the Week in 2025 alone, Kirst also represented the United States internationally, helping Team USA claim silver at the Men's Box World Championships. He scored multiple goals in every game of his final season.
Kelleher carved out a distinguished four-year career as one of Cornell's most productive midfielders. The three-time All-Ivy First Team honoree finished with 123 career points (93 goals, 30 assists) and six game-winning goals. As a sophomore in 2022, he contributed 31 points and delivered a memorable overtime winner at Syracuse. His junior season saw him score in 11 consecutive games. In 2024, he earned first-team All-Ivy honors and honorable mention All-American recognition from two outlets. Kelleher saved his best for last in 2025, becoming the first-ever recipient of the Ivy League Midfielder of the Year award while earning Nike Inside Lacrosse Third-Team All-American honors. He surpassed the 100-point milestone during his senior campaign, recording multiple goals in 10 games and dishing assists in 11 others. A reliable two-way contributor throughout his career, Kelleher consistently produced from the midfield and added value on ground balls and caused turnovers across all four seasons.
