PRINCETON, N.J. — Former Cornell standout CJ Kirst was named the Premier Lacrosse League’s Most Valuable Player following a record-breaking 2026 season, highlighting a group of six Ivy League alumni who earned major PLL end-of-season awards.

Kirst, who plays for the Philadelphia Waterdogs, broke the PLL single-season goals record with 34 goals during the regular season. The former Big Red standout finished with 39 points, adding five assists, in his second professional season.

Joining Kirst among the league’s major award winners were Princeton's Zach Currier, Andrew McMeekin and Michael Sowers, Yale's Brian Tevlin and Penn's Brendan Lavelle.

Currier was named Midfielder of the Year after another standout season with the Philadelphia Waterdogs. The former Princeton standout recorded 13 points, 68 ground balls and nine caused turnovers during the regular season.

McMeekin earned Faceoff Athlete of the Year honors following his season with the Boston Cannons. The Princeton product won 62.5 percent of his faceoffs, going 145-for-232 at the stripe while collecting 79 ground balls.

Sowers was named Attackman of the Year after leading the PLL with 51 points for Philadelphia. The former Princeton standout totaled 29 goals and a league-best 22 assists during the regular season.

Tevlin, a former Yale midfielder, earned the Hard Hat Award. Playing for the California Redwoods, Tevlin finished the regular season with 13 points, 25 ground balls and nine caused turnovers.

Lavelle rounded out the Ivy League honorees by earning Defensive Player of the Year honors. The former Penn standout recorded 15 caused turnovers and 33 ground balls for the Utah Archers during the regular season. His 15 caused turnovers led Utah and ranked fourth in the PLL.

The six major award winners continue a strong professional presence for Ivy League men’s lacrosse, with alumni from four league programs represented among the PLL’s top individual honorees.