Andrew Dalton scores go-ahead goal in fourth quarter to help Cornell reach lacrosse Final Four

CJ Kirst was asked what it means for Cornell’s seniors to return to the Final Four.

His answer was not about possibly competing for a national championship. Rather, it was about the relationships and memories Kirst and his teammates have built this season.

“Super-excited to have another week together,” Kirst said after Cornell outlasted Richmond, 13-12, in an NCAA Division I men’s lacrosse quarterfinal Saturday at Hofstra’s James M. Shuart Stadium. “Another week of being in the locker room; just being lacrosse players and hanging out with your buddies. So really, really excited for that opportunity.”

Andrew Dalton scored his third goal of the game with 5:28 left to break a 12-12 tie for Cornell (16-1), which will play the winner of Sunday’s quarterfinal between Penn State and Notre Dame next Saturday at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts.

“We’re really excited,” Kirst said. “This has been where we want to go and we’re super-excited for the opportunity.”

On March 2, Cornell defeated Richmond, 12-11. The Spiders led 11-8 in the fourth quarter before being stunned by the Big Red’s four-goal outburst in a span of 6 minutes, 28 seconds.

The rematch was not an exact replica of what transpired months earlier, but the broad strokes were relatively similar: Richmond led for three quarters but Cornell found a way to win in the end.

“They have a great team,” Cornell coach Connor Buczek said.

The Spiders led 10-9 entering the fourth quarter on Saturday. led by a three-goal performance by senior attack Max Merklinger and a 14-save effort by goaltender Zach Vigue.

Dalton scored his second goal 26 seconds into the fourth quarter to tie the score at 10. Willem Firth’s goal at 2:44 put the Big Red ahead 11-10, but Joe Sheridan scored twice in a 38-second span to give the Spiders a 12-11 lead.

Forty-five seconds after Sheridan’s second goal, Kirst netted his second to tie it at 12. Dalton completed his hat trick by cutting toward the middle and whipping a sidearm shot past Vigue for what proved to be the winner.

For Richmond (14-4), what coach Dan Chemotti hopes was a foundational season for the program has come to an end.

“Just certainly overcome by emotion after the game,” said Chemotti, who sat between Merklinger and Vigue. “These guys to my right and left and their other fellow seniors, these guys have done something for our program that’s really hard to put into words.

“They’ve created a sense — a true sense — of belief that every time we took the field, we would win. That has existed in pockets in the past, and certainly we’ve done some good things in the past, but to be able to go through this season with that sense in every single game is a testament to our seniors and team leadership, and I think it’s bound to be program-changing.”

Cornell, which entered the game allowing 38.4 shots per game, allowed only two attempts in the final 4 minutes and 20 seconds.

“They closed the game,” Buczek said of his defense. “They made some excellent plays.”