Cornell Big Red men's lacrosse

Last updated
Cornell Big Red men's lacrosse
Cornell "C" logo.svg
Founded1865;160 years ago (1865)
University Cornell University
Head coach Connor Buczek
Stadium Schoellkopf Field
(capacity: 21,500)
Location Ithaca, New York, U.S.
Conference Ivy League
Nickname Big Red
ColorsCarnelian red and white [1]
   
Pre-NCAA era championships
1902, 1903, 1907, 1914, 1916
NCAA Tournament championships
1971, 1976, 1977, 2025
NCAA Tournament Runner-Up
1978, 1987, 1988, 2009, 2022
NCAA Tournament Final Fours
1971, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1982, 1987, 1988, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2022, 2025
NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals
1971, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1987, 1988, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2018, 2022, 2025
NCAA Tournament appearances
1971, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1995, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2022, 2023, 2025
Conference Tournament championships
2011, 2018, 2025
Conference regular season championships
1966, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1987, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025

The Cornell Big Red men's lacrosse team represents Cornell University in NCAA Division I men's lacrosse. The Big Red have won four NCAA national championships and currently compete as a member of the Ivy League. Cornell plays its games at Schoellkopf Field in Ithaca, New York. Three Cornell men have won college lacrosse's highest honor, the Tewaaraton Award: Max Seibald in 2009, Rob Pannell in 2013, and CJ Kirst in 2025.

Contents

History

As a member of the Ivy League, Cornell has won 33 conference championships (21 outright, 12 shared), more than any other school. Princeton, with 27 conference championships (18 outright, 9 shared) is second. The Ivy League awards the conference championship to the team with the best record at the conclusion of the regular season. If two or more teams are tied with the same record the championship is shared.

Cornell vs. Princeton in 1987 Cornell University vs Princeton Lacrosse 1987.jpg
Cornell vs. Princeton in 1987

The Cornell team was undefeated and untied in league play during 18 of their 21 outright championships, the most of any Ivy League team.

Since the introduction of the Ivy League lacrosse tournament in 2010, Cornell has won the tournament three times, in 2011, 2018, and 2025. The Big Red have appeared in the NCAA lacrosse tournament 31 times.

Cornell has won four NCAA championships, the most recent being in 2025 when they defeated Maryland 13–10. It was their first NCAA championship in 48 years, after five runner up finishes beginning in 1978. [2]

Cornell maintains the oldest ongoing rivalry in college lacrosse with the Hobart College Statesmen. [3] Their main Ivy League rivalry is with Princeton.

Cornell has claimed four NCAA national championships and four pre-NCAA era titles. Some of the all-time great lacrosse players and coaches have played for or coached the Big Red, including Mike French, Eamon McEneaney, CJ Kirst, and Richie Moran.

Cornell played their first official season of lacrosse in 1892 and have a record of 826-502-27 (.619) following the 2025 season. [4]

In 2009, Max Seibald won the Tewaaraton Award, awarded to the "Most Outstanding" collegiate lacrosse player in the United States. [5]

In 2013, Rob Pannell won the Tewaaraton Award while leading Cornell to the NCAA semifinals, also breaking the all-time career scoring mark that season.

The 2004 Cornell lacrosse team Cornell lacrosse 2004.jpg
The 2004 Cornell lacrosse team

Eamon McEneaney is one of the top all-time college lacrosse players. McEneaney teamed with Hall of Fame players Mike French, Dan Mackesey, Bill Marino, Bob Hendrickson, and Chris Kane, and coach Richie Moran to lead the Cornell Big Red to the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship in 1976 and 1977. His top season was 1975 when he scored 31 goals and handed out 65 assists for 96 total points in 17 games, and was named the USILA player of the year. That year, he was also awarded the Turnbull Award given to the top collegiate attackman. His career was played in an era when freshmen were not eligible to play varsity sports. McEneaney was also an outstanding football player, playing wide receiver. He was named to the All-Ivy second team in 1976, when he led Cornell in receiving and was second in team scoring. He was voted the outstanding player in the 1977 NCAA Championship game and represented the United States in the 1978 World Lacrosse Championships. McEneaney was inducted into the Cornell Sports Hall of Fame in 1982 and was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1992. [6] In 1995, he was named to the NCAA's Silver Anniversary Lacrosse Team, recognizing his place among the best players of the first quarter century of NCAA lacrosse. McEneaney's jersey number (#10) was retired by Cornell University on April 27, 2002, in memoriam. [7]

CJ Kirst in a regular season game against Brown in 2025 Cornell Lacrosse player CJ Kirst.jpg
CJ Kirst in a regular season game against Brown in 2025

In April 2025, senior CJ Kirst became the NCAA Division I men’s lacrosse all-time leading goal scorer, bringing Cornell the Ivy League regular season title in a game against Dartmouth. Kirst finished his collegiate career with 247 career goals and tied the single season scoring record with 82 goals. [8] Kirst was also unanimously selected as Attackman of the Year in 2025. [9] In May 2025, Kirst became the third Cornellian (and fifth Ivy League student-athlete) to earn the Tewaaraton Award, days after leading his team to its first NCAA title since 1977. [10]

Head coaches

Head coach Connor Buczek in 2025 Connor Buczek, Cornell Big Red lacrosse head coach.jpg
Head coach Connor Buczek in 2025

Cornell has had thirteen men's lacrosse head coaches since 1892: [11]

As of the 2025 season, the program has a record of 826-502-27, which is a .620 winning percentage, with 4 NCAA titles.

Season results

The following is a list of Cornell's results by season: [12] [13]

SeasonCoachOverallConferenceStandingPostseason
No Head Coach (Independent)(1892–1914)
1892No Head Coach 0–1
1893No Head Coach 1–3
1894No Head Coach 2–1
1895No Head Coach 1–4
1896No Head Coach No Season Held
1897No Head Coach No Season Held
1898No Head Coach 1–4
1899No Head Coach 4–3–2
1900No Head Coach 3–4
1901No Head Coach 4–3
1902No Head Coach 4–2Intercollegiate Champion
1903No Head Coach 2–4–1Intercollegiate Champion
1904No Head Coach 6–4–1
1905No Head Coach 4–5–1
1906No Head Coach 3–4–2
1907No Head Coach 7–0Intercollegiate Champion
1908No Head Coach 3–1–1
1909No Head Coach 2–3
1910No Head Coach 5–2
1911No Head Coach 2–7
1912No Head Coach 4–3–1
1913No Head Coach 5–3–1
1914No Head Coach 6–2–2Co-Intercollegiate Champion
No Head Coach:69–65–12 (.514)
Talbot Hunter (Independent)(1915–1916)
1915Talbot Hunter 1–5–1
1916Talbot Hunter 5–3Co-Intercollegiate Champion
1917Talbot Hunter No Season Held
1918Talbot Hunter No Season Held
1919Talbot Hunter No Season Held
Talbot Hunter:7–8–1 (.469)
Nicholas Bawlf (Independent)(1920–1939)
1920Nicholas Bawlf 6–2–1
1921Nicholas Bawlf 4–5–1
1922Nicholas Bawlf 4–4–1
1923Nicholas Bawlf 6–2
1924Nicholas Bawlf 3–2
1925Nicholas Bawlf 3–4
1926Nicholas Bawlf 5–2
1927Nicholas Bawlf 4–2
1928Nicholas Bawlf 2–3–1
1929Nicholas Bawlf 1–5–1
1930Nicholas Bawlf 4–1–3
1931Nicholas Bawlf 2–2–1
1932Nicholas Bawlf 4–1
1933Nicholas Bawlf 6–1–1
1934Nicholas Bawlf 2–4
1935Nicholas Bawlf 0–5
1936Nicholas Bawlf 1–5
1937Nicholas Bawlf 1–4
1938Nicholas Bawlf 3–4
1939Nicholas Bawlf 1–5–1
Nicholas Bawlf:62–63–11 (.496)
Ray Van Orman (Independent)(1940–1949)
1940Ray Van Orman 2–6
1941Ray Van Orman 1–5
1942Ray Van Orman 2–4
1943Ray Van Orman 2–2
1944Ray Van Orman 4–1
1945Ray Van Orman 1–4
1946Ray Van Orman 1–8
1947Ray Van Orman 3–4
1948Ray Van Orman 3–5
1949Ray Van Orman 5–6
Ray Van Orman:24–45 (.348)
Ross H. Smith (Independent)(1950–1955)
1950Ross H. Smith 3–6
1951Ross H. Smith 3–9
1952Ross H. Smith 4–7
1953Ross H. Smith 7–5
1954Ross H. Smith 9–3
1955Ross H. Smith 8–3–1
Ross H. Smith (Ivy League)(1956–1961)
1956Ross H. Smith 5–72–34th
1957Ross H. Smith 6–52–34th
1958Ross H. Smith 9–1–14–12nd
1959Ross H. Smith 9–24–12nd
1960Ross H. Smith 8–33–23rd
1961Ross H. Smith 4–5–10–4–16th
Ross H. Smith:75–56–3 (.571)
Robert Cullen (Ivy League)(1962–1965)
1962Robert Cullen 4–43–2T-2nd
1963Robert Cullen 5–62–34th
1964Robert Cullen 3–71–57th
1965Robert Cullen 4–72–4T-4th
Robert Cullen:16–24 (.400)
Ned Harkness (Ivy League)(1966–1969)
1966Ned Harkness 12–06–01st
1967Ned Harkness 11–15–12nd
1968Ned Harkness 12–06–01st
Ned Harkness:35–1 (.972)
Richie Moran (Ivy League)(1969–1997)
1969Richie Moran 8–34–2T-1st
1970Richie Moran 11–06–01st
1971Richie Moran 13–16–01st NCAA Division I Champion
1972Richie Moran 10–36–01st
1973Richie Moran 8–35–12nd
1974Richie Moran 12–26–01st NCAA Division I Final Four
1975Richie Moran 15–26–01st NCAA Division I Final Four
1976Richie Moran 16–06–01st NCAA Division I Champion
1977Richie Moran 13–06–01st NCAA Division I Champion
1978Richie Moran 13–16–01st NCAA Division I Runner-Up
1979Richie Moran 10–35–11st NCAA Division I Quarterfinals
1980Richie Moran 8–55–1T–1st NCAA Division I Quarterfinals
1981Richie Moran 8–46–01st
1982Richie Moran 11–26–01st NCAA Division I Final Four
1983Richie Moran 8–45–1T–1st NCAA Division I Quarterfinals
1984Richie Moran 6–64–2T–2nd
1985Richie Moran 8–44–2T–2nd
1986Richie Moran 7–64–2T–2nd
1987Richie Moran 13–16–01st NCAA Division I Runner-Up
1988Richie Moran 9–63–3T–4th NCAA Division I Runner-Up
1989Richie Moran 9–44–2T–2nd NCAA Division I First Round
1990Richie Moran 7–62–4T–5th
1991Richie Moran 8–52–4T–5th
1992Richie Moran 7–53–34th
1993Richie Moran 4–73–3T–3rd
1994Richie Moran 1–100–67th
1995Richie Moran 8–63–34th NCAA Division I First Round
1996Richie Moran 3–111–56th
1997Richie Moran 3–111–5T–6th
Richie Moran:257–121 (.680)124–50 (.713)
Dave Pietramala (Ivy League)(1998–2000)
1998Dave Pietramala 6–74–23rd
1999Dave Pietramala 7–64–2T–2nd
2000Dave Pietramala 10–45–12nd NCAA Division I First Round
Dave Pietramala:23–17 (.575)13–5 (.722)
Jeff Tambroni (Ivy League)(2001–2010)
2001Jeff Tambroni 7–64–22nd
2002Jeff Tambroni 11–44–2T–2nd NCAA Division I Quarterfinals
2003Jeff Tambroni 9–45–1T–1st
2004Jeff Tambroni 9–55–1T–1st NCAA Division I Quarterfinals
2005Jeff Tambroni 11–36–01st NCAA Division I Quarterfinals
2006Jeff Tambroni 11–35–1T–1st NCAA Division I First Round
2007Jeff Tambroni 15–16–01st NCAA Division I Final Four
2008Jeff Tambroni 11–45–1T–1st NCAA Division I First Round
2009Jeff Tambroni 13–45–1T–1st NCAA Division I Runner-Up
2010Jeff Tambroni 12–64–2T–1st NCAA Division I Final Four
Jeff Tambroni:109–40 (.732)49–11 (.817)
Ben DeLuca (Ivy League)(2011–2013)
2011Ben DeLuca 14–36–01st NCAA Division I Quarterfinals
2012Ben DeLuca 9–44–2T–2nd
2013Ben DeLuca 14–46–01st NCAA Division I Final Four
Ben DeLuca:37–11 (.771)16–2 (.889)
Matt Kerwick (Ivy League)(2014–2017)
2014Matt Kerwick 11–55–1T–1st NCAA Division I First Round
2015Matt Kerwick 10–64–2T–1st NCAA Division I First Round
2016Matt Kerwick 6–71–56th
2017Matt Kerwick 5–83–3T–4th
Matt Kerwick:32–26 (.552)13–11 (.542)
Peter Milliman (Ivy League)(2018–2020)
2018Pete Milliman 13–54–22nd NCAA Division I Quarterfinals
2019Pete Milliman 10–54–23rd
2020Pete Milliman 5–00–0††
Pete Milliman:28–10 (.737)8–4 (.667)
Connor Buczek (Ivy League)(2021–present)
2021Connor Buczek 0–00–0††††
2022Connor Buczek 14–54–2T–1st NCAA Division I Runner-up
2023Connor Buczek 11–45–11st NCAA Division I First Round
2024Connor Buczek 9–55–11st
2025Connor Buczek 18–16–01st NCAA Division I Champion
Connor Buczek:52–15 (.776)20–4 (.833)
Total:826–502–27 (.620)

      National champion        Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion        Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion      Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

† NCAA cancelled 2020 collegiate activities due to the COVID-19 virus. †† Ivy League cancelled 2021 collegiate season due to the COVID-19 virus.

References

  1. ↑ "Colors". Cornell University Brand Center. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
  2. ↑ 2009 Cornell Men's Lacrosse Quick Facts (PDF), Cornell University, 2009.
  3. ↑ Hobart-Cornell lax opener delayed, moved to Carrier Dome, Hobart & William Smith Colleges, February 24, 2010, retrieved May 31, 2010.
  4. ↑ "Men's Lacrosse Begins NCAA Journey vs. UAlbany on Sunday Under the Schoellkopf Lights". CornellBigRed.com. 11 May 2025. Retrieved 2025-05-11.
  5. ↑ "Tewaaraton Announces 2007 Finalists". Tewaaraton.com. Archived from the original on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2007-05-21.
  6. ↑ "Eamon McEneaney's Lacrosse Hall of Fame Bio". Archived from the original on 2012-07-19. Retrieved 2023-04-28.
  7. ↑ Eamon McEneaney's Lacrosse Jersey is Officially Retired [ permanent dead link ]
  8. ↑ Logue, Brian (26 April 2025). "Cornell's C.J. Kirst Sets NCAA Division I Men's All-Time Goals Record". USA Lacrosse Magazine. Archived from the original on 26 April 2025. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  9. ↑ Hartigan, Jeremy (30 April 2025). "Kirst, Kelleher, Singer Win Major Honors As Men's Lax Cleans Up Ivy awards". Cornell University Athletics. Archived from the original on 30 April 2025. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  10. ↑ "Cornell's CJ Kirst Wins 2025 Tewaaraton Award". The Ivy League. 29 May 2025. Archived from the original on 30 May 2025. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
  11. ↑ "Statistical Records (PDF)" (PDF). Cornell University Athletics. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
  12. ↑ "All Time Results (PDF)" (PDF). Cornell University Athletics. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
  13. ↑ "Year by Year Records and Captains (PDF)" (PDF). Cornell University Athletics. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
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