FOXBOROUGH, Massachusetts — CJ Kirst was held scoreless for the first 28 minutes in Monday’s NCAA championship. It looked like Maryland men’s lacrosse might be able to shut down Cornell’s senior attacker, who was likely battling an injury and coming off his first collegiate game without a point.

Then, Division I men’s lacrosse’s all-time leading goal scorer broke through.

Kirst scored five times in the second half, leading No. 1-seed Cornell past No. 2-seed Maryland, 13-10, in the NCAA championship at Gillette Stadium. The Terps fell to 2-7 in the title game under coach John Tillman, while the Big Red won their first championship since 1977.

“If you have a guy that can put you on his back … you have a decided advantage,” Tillman said. “CJ [Kirst’s] been that guy, just has all year.”

Maryland also fell in last year’s NCAA title game to Notre Dame. The Terps have reached four of the past five championship games, but have only one title in that span — a win over Cornell in 2022.

Kirst, a then-freshman who scored two goals in that game, made sure this time ended differently.

The first-team All-American’s biggest score came just after Maryland scored consecutive goals to trim the Big Red’s lead to one in the fourth quarter. He cut back at the X and left graduate student defender Jackson Canfield behind him, leading to a point-blank goal.

Kirst dominated in one-on-one play and created 16 shot attempts. Still, the Terps had chances in the final quarter, but costly turnovers late in the contest sealed their fate.

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Maryland ended the game with 12 giveaways to Cornell’s 8. The Terps entered ranked second nationally in clearing percentage, but failed on three in the fourth quarter — the Big Red had two missed clears total.

Maryland junior defender Will Schaller failed to get the ball past midfield when he looped a pass too high for junior midfielder Eric Kolar. Cornell forced midfielders to handle the ball under pressure throughout.

“Part of it was we were gassed,” Tillman said. “Our inside guys didn’t move as well as we normally do, and [Cornell rides] you really well.”

The Terps went offsides a few minutes later. Sophomore attacker Ryan Goldstein took advantage with his fourth goal on the Big Red’s next possession, effectively sealing the loss for goalkeeper Logan McNaney in his last game for Maryland.

McNaney entered second nationally in goals against average, but allowed 13 scores, the second-most he’s given up this season. Cornell varied shot placements against the graduate student and limited him to a .458 save percentage.

McNaney has shined when the Terps force shots from the perimeter, like they did in the semifinals against Syracuse. But the Big Red’s attackers beat defenders near the crease through persistent movement on and off the ball.

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In the first half, Goldstein started near the sideline and beat Canfield to the cage. Senior midfielder Andrew Dalton scored when he cut and received a pass in front of the cage.

Even with the Terps’ defense making uncharacteristic mistakes, the teams were largely even in the opening half.

They matched each other in shots, faceoffs and ground balls in the first quarter. The Terps’ average possessions were long, but they struggled to capitalize like they did in the previous round.

Spanos, who had four goals against the Orange, failed to convert on an open look near the cage early. The senior broke through with a few goals from the outside in the second quarter. Three other Terps scored and Maryland faced a one-goal deficit at halftime.

Spanos had a chance to finally tie the game from near the crease with just over eight minutes left, but Cornell goalie Wyatt Knust made his most important save. The Terps’ turnovers, combined with Kirst’s score, kept the Big Red’s lead steady.

Maryland’s defense this season will go down as one of the program’s best, but it ultimately finished on a low note.

“It’s not something we’re going to forget,” Schaller said. “I can promise you that.”