The Boston Cannons have ascended from the bottom of the totem pole in the PLL to a consistent championship contender in only two seasons under head coach Brian Holman. 

Two years ago, the Cannons saw their season come to an end in Salt Lake City, missing the playoffs after winning just one game all year. Most would call it a season to forget, but for the current Cannons players who were part of that 2022 team, the success of the current squad means even more because of it. 

Colin Kirst spent the majority of his rookie season in 2022 waiting from the wings for his turn. Aside from coming on in relief of Nick Marrocco in the tail end of one game and making his first pro start in the Cannons’ final game of the season, Kirst embraced his role as the team’s backup goalie. 

Listening and learning, his patience paid off. 

When Coach Holman stepped in in 2023, Boston’s roster looked quite different from the year prior. The Cannons needed to find their identity as a team, and Holman knew the only way they could do so was by finding the right guys to build it with.

Only ten players from the 2022 club remained with the Cannons as they entered this new era. They signed veteran Adam Ghitelman as Kirst’s counterpart. 

Ghitelman started the first two games of the 2023 season, both ending in a loss. On June 16, Holman gave Kirst his first start of the season. For the first time in 376 days, it was a win for the Boom Squad. 

And with that, the rise of Colin Kirst began.

From backup to breakout star

In his second season as Boston’s starting goaltender, Kirst has established himself as one of the top netminders in the league. 

Kirst’s 119 saves rank second among goalies, trailing only the Maryland Whipsnakes’ Brendan Krebs. However, that number doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface of how exceptional the 25-year-old is between the pipes.

Quick reaction speed, an unparalleled ability to make the first step to the ball, seemingly perfect vision from a distance and consistent top-hand saves on off-side shots are all attributes that have made Kirst a formidable presence in goal. These traits, combined with his mental toughness and love for the game and his teammates, have enabled him to excel at the highest level. With each game, it seems like he gets better and better. 

Though he ranks fourth in save percentage (54.1%) among starters behind Liam Entenmann, Blaze Riorden and Brett Dobson, it’s important to keep in mind Kirst has played more games than all three and also sees more shots per game on average than them. There’s no question about it, he’s battle-tested.  

Clutch performances in critical moments

The phrases “battle-tested” and “clutch” get used often in lacrosse, but there’s no better example in the PLL right now of both of those things than Kirst.

Kirst’s greatness shines brightest in the most critical moments. His ability to elevate his play as the game progresses is evident in his save percentages by quarter, which rise dramatically from the first half to the second half.

In the first quarter, Kirst averages a 42.6% save percentage. By the fourth quarter? 67.3%. His standout second-half performances have been instrumental to Boston’s success this season. He held the high-powered, No. 1 ranked New York Atlas offense to just four goals in the second half and limited the Denver Outlaws to a single goal in the same stretch. 

Over his last eight starts, Kirst averaged 3.4 scores against in the second half. Not only is he combat-wise against the top offenses in the league, he always rises to the occasion. There are no lights too bright for him. 

“He has a very high threshold of what he thinks is acceptable in net,” Holman said. “He’s not a kid that’s satisfied with a good game. He wants to be great, and great for all the right reasons.”