As the 2025 DI men’s lacrosse tournament approaches, let’s round up the top offensive players competing. The tournament kicks off with two opening rounds on May 7 before the tournament kicks off on Saturday, May 10.
This list is in no particular order and many more names could be added. Here are just a few of the incredible talents who will be competing for the title in 2025.
TOURNAMENT: 2025 NCAA DI Men’s Lacrosse Championship: Bracket, schedule, results
CJ Kirst, Cornell
This list isn’t ranked, but if it were, Kirst would be at the top. The senior forward has built a house of accolades this season and will likely add more when May ends. He has already broken the DI men’s lacrosse scoring record with 68 goals this season, putting him in the top 10 all-time for goals in a season. With 15 more in this tournament, he will break his all-time record of 82. He has 13 goals and 12 points more than any player in the country. He is also the only player in the country averaging more than 4 goals per game (4.53).
But beyond the personal accomplishments, Kirst led the Big Red to its third straight Ivy League title and first No. 1 seed since 1978. He has 20 goals in three of his last four games and is the catalyst for an offense that leads the nation in scoring at 16.47 goals per game. Kirst is the guy that the team will stand up to win this May.
WATCH: All nine of CJ Kirst’s goals against Yale 🔥🔥🔥
(via ESPN+, @CornellLacrosse) https://t.co/qlaloHkpCf pic.twitter.com/1qFYLmIKTm
— TLN 🥍 (@LacrosseNetwork) March 24, 2025
READ MORE: How 2 of DI Men’s Lacrosse’s Most Historic Programs Can Return to Glory
Coulter Maxey, Princeton
The second of three Ivy League players on the list, Maxey led the Tigers to their fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. Of course, there were other factors at play, but before Maxey arrived in New Jersey, Princeton had not been in the tournament since 2012. He made an immediate impact as a freshman in 2022 with 28 goals and has led the Tigers in scoring every year since.
Mackey scored in every game this season until the Tigers played Cornell for the Ivy League title, but this is a three-year veteran leading a program hungry for its first title since 2001. Even during his worst statistical season since 2022, he still led the way with 40 points outside the game. game.
Joey Spalina, Syracuse
The No. 1 recruit in the class of 2022 continues to impress in his junior season, ranking eighth in the nation in points per game (4.88). The offensive lineman led one of the nation’s most battle-tested teams to three wins against top-10 RPI teams. All five of Syracuse’s losses came to tournament teams, and the Orange peaked at the right time, knocking off Duke in the ACC Tournament for the first time since 2016.
Spallina’s goalscoring ability is certainly a threat, but his vision from the x position behind the goal makes him the biggest threat. He is tied for third nationally with three assists per game, and with two more assists in the contest, Spallina will reach 50 assists for the second time.
How did Joey Spallina dominate against the nation’s top quarterback?
he used his off-the-ball IQ to slip into Shaun Laig, constantly pressuring him to shut down and create high-quality shooting opportunities. pic.twitter.com/bRkQPktxui
— Kevin Boilard (@KevinBoilard) April 6, 2025
Chris Kavanagh, Notre Dame
It wouldn’t be a list of men’s lacrosse events without a mention of the back-to-back defending national champions, and Kavanagh is a guy the Irish love to attack. Notre Dame’s championship game of 81 points last season was nowhere near matched, but the senior forward is still the game’s best player, and he has the rings to prove it. Notre Dame has more turnovers this season than its previous two games combined, but he ranks in the top 10 in DI (4.67).
The Irish have felt the loss of Chris’ older brother Pat this season, but with Kavanagh on the list in May, it’s hard to count on an Irish team.
Owen Duffy, North Carolina
The No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2023 continues his impressive freshman season in Chapel Hill. He led the Tar Heels to the tournament for the first time since 2021, snapping the second longest drought in program history. His connection with sophomore Dominic Pietramala is one of the best in the country, and Duffy accounted for most of Pietramala’s 45 goals.
Duffy scored or assisted on over 30 percent of UNC’s field goals. He is the focal point of a young but talented offense averaging 13 goals per game.
Sam King, Harvard
The last Ivy League player to make the list, King is 11th nationally in points per game (4.57), and he led the Crimson to its eighth NCAA Tournament appearance in his senior year. King has 64 points this season and is hitting .361 on the back of his 73 points as a junior.
Harvard has its first 10-win season since 2014 and is looking to win its first tournament since 1996. Despite being tied with Syracuse in the first round, the Crimson had already defeated the Orange 15-14. King leads a Harvard veteran that could make a run.
Eric Malver, duke
Malver provided a huge spark for the Blue Devils in his lone season at Durham. He transferred from Maryland in his fifth year after missing 2023 due to injury. He broke his previous career high of 16 points with at least one game remaining. The forward leads Duke in points (64), goals (32) and assists (32), showing his versatility.
He brings championship experience after winning a title with Maryland in 2022, finding the x-factor as Duke looks for its first title since 2014.
Ryan Goldstein, Cornell
Yep, another Cornell guy. That’s how good a big red attack is. Goldstein is fifth in the nation in total points (79) in his sophomore season, and his two-man matchup with Kirst has been lethal all season. Kirst is obviously the biggest offensive engine in the country, but this season was about to start. Goldstein is a true sophomore and leads the nation’s No. 1 team in assists. He is one of two DI sophomores with 40-plus assists along with Colgate’s Liam Connor. His growth has been instrumental in Cornell’s historic season, and when he and Kierst are at their best, it will be hard to find a better offensive duo in the country.

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