Kirst Ties Points Mark as Waterdogs Win Second Lacrosse Title

The Philadelphia Waterdogs won their second Premier Lacrosse League championship on Sunday, defeating the Denver Outlaws 14-4 at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey.

League MVP CJ Kirst led the dismantling with seven points on five goals and two assists, tying the championship-game scoring record on his 24th birthday. He scored three times in the opening quarter as Philadelphia built a 7-3 lead and never looked back.

Seven points, one birthday, a record matched

The Waterdogs tilted the field from the first whistle. They forced Denver into 13 turnovers by halftime, held the Outlaws to one shot on goal in the second quarter, and shut them out entirely in the third.

Kirst had four goals and an assist by the break.

A defense that allowed almost nothing

Philadelphia's unit held Denver to the fewest goals ever scored in a PLL Championship. Rookie goaltender Sean Byrne, an undrafted mid-season addition, made 11 saves and went unbeaten in seven starts after taking over the net.

"This means everything," Kirst told reporters after the match. "It's something we always talk about, is you compete for a reason. I'm just so fortunate to be on this stage and so fortunate to be in New Jersey winning for them."

From 2-8 to kings of the league

Two years ago the Waterdogs finished 2-8 in Bill Tierney's first season as head coach. On Friday, Kirst became the youngest Jim Brown MVP since Paul Rabil in 2009. On Sunday, he added championship MVP to complete the turnaround.

The victory placed Philadelphia back on top for the first time since their 2022 title. Sowers, a holdover from that team, stood at the centre of the transformation. The rebuild is finished.