Willem Firth is a Canadian lacrosse player from Ottawa, Ontario, who represents Cornell University in NCAA Division I men’s lacrosse. After earning Ivy League Rookie of the Year honours in 2024, he helped lead Cornell to a 2025 national championship before becoming one of the team’s leading attackers in 2026.
At Cornell, Firth moved from midfield into attack while also competing internationally for Canada. His 81-point performance in 2026 brought Ivy League and ECAC honours, national All-American recognition, and a place among the Tewaaraton Award finalists.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Willem Firth |
| Hometown | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
| University | Cornell University |
| Sport | NCAA Division I men’s lacrosse |
| Playing position | Attackman |
| Jersey number | 51 |
| Previous school | The Hill Academy |
| Major achievement | 2025 NCAA Division I national champion |
Who Is Willem Firth in Cornell Lacrosse?
Willem Firth is a Cornell Big Red men’s lacrosse player who wears jersey number 51. Originally from Ottawa, he attended The Hill Academy in Ontario before beginning his collegiate career in the United States.
Cornell’s athletics department lists him as a senior on its 2027 roster and identifies him as a member of the university’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
His development at Cornell has involved several significant achievements. He received conference recognition during his freshman season, contributed to a national championship as a sophomore, and became a prominent member of the attacking unit during his junior campaign.
His collegiate achievements include conference awards, national All-American recognition, and selection as a finalist for the 2026 Tewaaraton Award.
From The Hill Academy to Ivy League Rookie of the Year
Before joining Cornell, Firth developed his lacrosse skills at The Hill Academy in Ontario.
Firth collected The Hill Academy’s top offensive player honour in consecutive years, 2022 and 2023. Another distinction followed in 2023, when Firth was recognised as an All-American at the high school level.
Those accomplishments preceded his move into NCAA Division I competition.
In a June 2025 interview with Ottawa Sports Pages, Firth explained that the opportunity to compete for a national championship had influenced his decision to attend Cornell. He also spoke positively about the team’s shared competitive goals and the environment he found within the programme.
His first college season quickly brought individual recognition.
In 2024, he started all 14 of Cornell’s games, scoring 22 goals and providing 12 assists. His 34 points across 14 freshman appearances helped secure the Ivy League’s 2024 Rookie of the Year distinction.
His subsequent seasons at Cornell brought greater scoring contributions and a change in his responsibilities on the field.
Firth’s Role in Cornell’s 2025 NCAA Championship
Firth’s second season brought a significant team achievement as Cornell pursued the NCAA Division I men’s lacrosse championship.
Contemporary accounts placed Firth mainly in midfield during 2025, a season in which he featured in each of Cornell’s 19 games. His offensive contribution increased to 32 goals and 17 assists, giving him 49 points.
On 26 May 2025, Cornell faced Maryland in the deciding game of the NCAA national championship.
The Big Red defeated Maryland 13–10 to claim their first NCAA men’s lacrosse national championship since 1977. Although Firth did not register a goal or assist in the final, his season-long involvement formed part of Cornell’s successful championship campaign.
Firth shared his recollections of that championship occasion with Ottawa Sports Pages in a subsequent interview.
Firth recalled feeling nervous before the championship game but becoming absorbed in the competition once play began. He also described the significance of celebrating with his family after Cornell secured the title.
The victory fulfilled an ambition he had identified when explaining his decision to attend the university: having the opportunity to compete for a national championship.
Cornell’s title also provided an important backdrop for the following season, when changes within the team’s attacking unit created a different playing role for Firth.
Canadian Box Lacrosse and International Representation
Alongside his NCAA field lacrosse career, Firth has competed in Canadian junior box lacrosse.
During the 2025 Ontario Junior Lacrosse League season, he represented the Toronto Beaches and recorded 61 goals and 80 assists in 24 appearances.
His combined total of 141 points came from box lacrosse, a separate competitive format from the field lacrosse played at Cornell. The two sets of statistics therefore represent different parts of his sporting record.
Firth also gained experience representing Canada internationally.
In September 2025, he competed for Canada at the Atlas Cup, a tournament played in the sixes format. Canada completed the competition with an undefeated 3–0 record.
During Canada’s 26–11 victory over Puerto Rico on 28 September, he contributed three goals and four assists.
He was named to the Atlas Cup all-tournament team following Canada’s undefeated campaign.
Speaking to USA Lacrosse during the competition, Firth expressed his determination to help Canada win. His participation also coincided with Cornell’s championship-ring presentation, which he missed while representing his country.
His involvement with Toronto Beaches and the Canadian sixes team adds two distinct competitive experiences to his collegiate record.
How the Move to Attack Shaped His 2026 Breakthrough
One of the clearest changes in Firth’s Cornell career came ahead of the 2026 season, when he moved into a more established attacking role.
He had previously contributed from midfield, including during the 2025 championship campaign. By 2026, Cornell identified him as an attackman.
The adjustment involved working alongside teammates with experience in the position.
In a March 2026 interview with The Cornell Daily Sun, Firth credited Ryan Goldstein with helping him adapt. He also explained that watching former Cornell standout CJ Kirst had helped his understanding of the role.
He also said he remained in contact with Kirst.
His statistical improvement during 2026 was substantial.
Cornell scoring record
| Season | Games | Goals | Assists | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 14 | 22 | 12 | 34 |
| 2025 | 19 | 32 | 17 | 49 |
| 2026 | 16 | 52 | 29 | 81 |
The 2026 season produced his highest scoring total across those three collegiate campaigns. He scored 52 goals and added 29 assists, finishing with 81 points in 16 games.
He also reached an important career milestone on 1 May 2026, recording his 100th collegiate goal during Cornell’s game against Harvard.
His move into attack coincided with a substantial increase in his scoring output.
His 2026 All-American Honours and Tewaaraton Recognition
Firth’s 2026 performances earned several major individual distinctions.
On 30 April 2026, the Ivy League announced him as its Attacker of the Year, with the selection made unanimously. Every voter also backed his inclusion in the 2026 All-Ivy First Team.
His achievements extended beyond conference competition.
Cornell confirmed his place on the five-player shortlist for the men’s Tewaaraton Award on 5 May 2026.
Princeton attackman Nate Kabiri was also among the five finalists for the 2026 Tewaaraton Award.
The Tewaaraton Award recognises exceptional individual achievement in college lacrosse. Firth was a finalist rather than the recipient; Notre Dame defender Shawn Lyght received the men’s award in 2026.
Further recognition followed in May.
On 7 May, he received First-Team USA Lacrosse All-American honours. Two days later, he was named to the First-Team Nike/Inside Lacrosse Media All-American squad.
The Eastern College Athletic Conference also recognised his offensive performances. On 19 May, the ECAC named Firth its Division I men’s lacrosse Offensive Player of the Year and selected him for the All-ECAC team.
These honours followed a season in which he substantially increased his scoring production while adapting to a different on-field role.
Cornell’s October 2026 roster places Firth in the senior class for 2027. By then, his achievements included the 2024 Ivy League Rookie of the Year honour, a national championship with Cornell, appearances for Canada, and several individual awards at the national level.
His Cornell career now includes championship success, international playing experience, and recognition among the leading individual performers in college lacrosse.