One of the Golden Knights’ all-time leading scorers on the soccer pitch, Michael Kirmse helped to lead Clarkson to several of its most successful seasons during the early
1990s, and continued his soccer career after graduation by becoming the first Golden Knight to compete professionally, playing several years of A-League soccer in the U.S. and overseas in Germany.
A senior select all-star from Sachem High School, the 5-8,155-pound midfielder from Holbrook, NY made an immediate impact for the Green and Gold as a freshman in 1990 and continued to provide plenty of outstanding plays for the highlight reel as well as earning numerous all-star accolades throughout his stellar four-year career at Clarkson.
Clarkson Soccer enjoyed outstanding success with Kirmse in the lineup, posting a 45-22-4 overall record from 1990-93. Head coach Willi Steinrotter’s squads competed for the league title in each of Kirmse’s four years and advanced to postseason play every fall with Kirmse leading the way.
As a freshman, Kirmse, who gained notice for his headstand/flip throw-ins, led the Knights with five game-winning goals and finished third on the scoring charts with 18 points, including eight goals. The following season he was Clarkson’s leading playmaker with 11 assists and contributed 19 points. As a junior, Kirmse was voted captain by his teammates and led the Green and Gold in scoring with 18 points, including seven goals.
Although he had knee surgery in the April before his senior year, the second-year captain saved his best for last. Krimse dominated in his final campaign by setting the school record for points in a season and tying the University’s mark for goals in a year while leading the Knights to a berth in the 1993 NCAA Division III Final Four.
Kirmse played through a severe ankle sprain in the latter stages of the schedule but still led the Golden Knights to their most successful season ever in the fall of 1993. He highlighted the Clarkson offensive charge with a school-record 16 goals and 42 points to help the Green and Gold post a 13-4-2 overall record, including a 6-0-0 Empire Athletic Association (EAA) mark. Kirmse tallied both goals in the Knights’ 2-0 victory at archrival St. Lawrence on October 1 as Clarkson capped off a perfect league campaign to claim its first ever conference title and an automatic berth into the 32-team NCAA Tournament.
In the NCAA Northeast Regional,Kirmse continued to shine. He tallied a goal in the regional semifinal win against Plattsburgh and scored the winning goal in Clarkson’s 2-0 victory over Cortland in the regional finals. In the following contest, Kirmse provided the dramatics in the Knights’ third straight NCAA win. His goal against Rowan at the 51:17 mark in the quarterfinal round of the 1993 NCAA Tournament, held at Snell Field in mid-November, was the only score of the contest and lifted the Knights into the Final Four.
Kirmse earned numerous all-star honors while at Clarkson, including being named a second-team All-America and 1993 EAA Player of the Year. He was named a league all-star in each of his four seasons and selected to the prestigious All-NYS team three times.
Kirmse completed his CU career tied for second on the Knights’ all-time scoring chart with 97 points on 35 goals and a school-record 27 assists in 69 games. He left Clarkson holding school records for goals, assists (11) and points in a season as well as assists in a game (3) and career.
After graduating in 1994 with a degree in Engineering and Management, and a one-year stint with Harris Corporation , Kirmse decided to move on to a productive professional career. He played two years in Germany, seven seasons in the A-League for the Rochester Raging Rhinos, Syracuse Salty Dogs and Virginia Beach Mariners, as well as two seasons with the Bufflalo Blizzard of the NPSL Indoor League. Kirmse, always a fan favorite, has played over 250 professional matches and has played just about every postion in the pros, earning nicknames such as, "Mr. Versatility"and "Super Sub".
One of his biggest moments professionally came in the 1999 U.S. Open Cup where he helped the underdog Rhinos become the first A-League team to win the championship. Kirmse assisted on the deciding goal in Rochester’s 1-0 victory over the defending Major League Soccer Champion Chicago Fire in the second round of cup play. He then lifted the Rhinos to a win in its quarterfinals match with his sudden death overtime game-winning goal in the 110th minute, giving Rochester a 2-1 win over MLS’s Dallas Burn, advancing the Rhinos to the Open Cup semifinals. Rochester, with Kirmse playing a key role, went on to defeat the Columbus Crew 3-2 in the semifinals and the Colorado Rapids 2-0 in the finals, with Kirmse assisting on the second goal in the championship match. Along with the Rhinos Open Cup championship, Kirmse was a part of three A-League championship teams while playing in Rochester (‘98, ‘00, ‘01).
Michael Kirmse accepts his Athletic Hall of Fame plaque from Clarkson AD Sean T. Frazier
