NEW YORK – After a historic 2018 season which saw the Columbia lacrosse team advance to its first-ever Ivy League Tournament, the Lions have added even more depth to the roster for the 2019 campaign with the addition of seven first-year players.

"We are thrilled to welcome this highly decorated group of first year student-athletes to our Columbia lacrosse family," said Columbia head coach Andrea Cofrin. "This is an extremely impressive group, on and off the field, and they will be notable representatives of our lacrosse program and the Columbia community here in New York City."

The incoming group of first-year players bring an abundance of experience and accolades, combining for three All-America selections, six All-State honors and 13 All-Conference distinctions.

"These young ladies are ready to work hard and build upon last season's success alongside our returning players," added Cofrin. "They are passionate about lacrosse and have a love for learning and being great teammates."

Rachel Graff
Bloomington, Minn. – Thomas Jefferson
Attack/Midfield

HIGH SCHOOL: A 10-time letterwinner as a dual-sport athlete at Thomas Jefferson High School in Bloomington, Minnesota … Five-year varsity starter and was a team captain for her final three seasons … Two-time All-American in 2017 and 2018 … Scored more than 50 goals each of her last four seasons, including a career-high 74 goals in her junior campaign … Recorded a career-best 21 assists to go with 68 goals and 60 draw controls her senior season … All-State performer in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 … Named to the 2015 USA Today All-State Team … Was one of the top-10 scorers in the state her last three years … Recipient of the Athena Award in 2018, an award presented to outstanding senior athletes across the Minneapolis metro area … Was also a five-year varsity letterwinner for the Jaguars hockey team, including two seasons as a team captain … Two-time Academic All-American.

PERSONAL: Born May 13, 2000 … Daughter of Jenn and Rob Graff … Both parents were student-athletes at Harvard - mother played basketball and father played lacrosse … Brother, Ryan, also plays lacrosse at Harvard … Has three siblings: Ryan, Ella and Kevin … Enrolled in Columbia College.

Katie Kelly
Summit, N.J. – Oak Knoll School
Attack

HIGH SCHOOL: Four-year letterwinner at Oak Knoll School … Recorded a career-high 34 goals her senior campaign to go with a career-best 46 assists … Helped Oak Knoll to four straight Group 1 Championships … Also won 2015 Tournament of Champions … Member of 2015, 2017 and 2018 Prep A Championship teams … Named Third Team All Group 1 as a junior and moved up to the Second Team as a senior … Team captain her senior year … AP Scholar.

PERSONAL: Born July 31, 2000 … Parents are Renee and Stephen Kelly … Has two brothers: Stephen and John … Prior to lacrosse, was a competitive figure skater and member of the synchronized skating team … Enrolled in Columbia College.

Payton Lill
Webster, N.Y. – Webster Schroeder
Attack

HIGH SCHOOL: A 10-time varsity letterwinner at Webster Schroeder High School in Webster, New York, playing five seasons of both basketball and lacrosse … A 2018 U.S. Lacrosse High School All-American … School record holder in points for both lacrosse (301) and basketball (1,332) … A three-time team MVP at Webster Schroeder, also holds the school record in goals (211) and draw controls (421) having led her team in goals each of her last four seasons … 2018 NYSSWA Large Schools All-Star Fourth Team … Recorded over 100 ground controls in each of her last three high school seasons, including a career-high 138 in her junior campaign … Also a 2018 Section V Ronald McDonald House All-Star and four-year First Team All-Monroe County performer in basketball.

PERSONAL: Born Oct. 9, 1999 …Parents are Jim and Tiffany Lill … Has deep Ivy League roots, as both her father and uncle played football and baseball at Columbia ... Aunt, Deni Bayer, also played field hockey at Brown … Has one brother, James … Spends time volunteering for the Steel Lillies Foundation, which helps support and raise awareness for Sarcoma research and was created in honor of her late mother … Enrolled in Columbia College.

Katie Lutz
Fayetteville, N.Y. – Jamesville Dewitt
Midfield

HIGH SCHOOL: Recorded career-high marks in both goals (47) and assists (14) her senior season at Jamesville Dewitt High School … Tallied 105 goals, 31 assists and 136 points in her four-year high school playing career … Earned SCAC Empire All-Star First Teams honors in both 2017 and 2018 … Helped Jamesville Dewitt to back-to-back league and sectional championships, as well as a regional championship in her senior campaign … Also a standout performer for the indoor track & field program, garnering First Team All-League honors as a junior and senior … 2018 Academic All-America … Commended National Merit Scholar.

PERSONAL: Born Nov. 22, 1999 … Daughter of Barbara and Charles Lutz … Has one brother, Mark, who plays basketball at Hamilton College … Enrolled in Columbia College … Intends to major in neuroscience.

Sydney Paoletti
Westfield, N.J. – Westfield
Attack

HIGH SCHOOL: As a junior at Westfield High School, recorded career-high marks of 52 goals, 19 assists and 17 ground balls … Did not see action in her senior season due to injury, but was named a team captain … Named a 2016 Under Armour All Star … 2017 Stars and Stripes Conference honorable mention …  Awarded the Peter Houlihan Memorial Award as a senior for her tireless work ethic … Also played volleyball and participated in cross country in high school … One of nine students in her graduating class to maintain a 4.0 GPA.

PERSONAL: Born Jan. 23, 2000 … Daughter of Kara and Doug Paoletti … Has one sister, Samantha … Holds a black belt in mixed martial arts … Enrolled in Columbia College … Intends to major in neuroscience and behavior.

Ryan Schlageter
Maplewood, N.J. – Oak Knoll School
Goalkeeper

HIGH SCHOOL: Tallied 319 saves with an overall save percentage of .452 as goalkeeper for Oak Knoll School … Third Team All-State, First Team All-Group and First Team All-Prep as a senior … 2018 Academic All-American … Helped Oak Knoll to four straight Group 1 Championships … Also won 2015 N.J. Tournament of Champions … Member of 2015, 2017 and 2018 Prep A Championship teams … First-Team All-Group and All-League honorable mention as a junior … Team captain for junior and senior seasons … Graduated Cum Laude with high honors.

PERSONAL: Born Dec. 10, 1999 … Daughter of Shannon and David Schlageter … Has three siblings – Rory, Keelin and Will … Brother, Rory, plays tight end for Columbia's football team … Enrolled in Columbia College … Intends to major in neuroscience and behavior.

Ava Spotts
Summit, N.J. – Summit
Attack

HIGH SCHOOL: Tallied 13 goals, 19 assists and 32 points in three seasons of varsity lacrosse at Summit High School … As a senior, recorded 10 goals and 17 assists … Won the 2016 Tournament of Champions … 2017 Group 3 State Champions … 2018 Group 3 runner-up … Played club lacrosse for STEPS Elite NJ … Graduated Magna Cum Laude and was a Presidential Award for Educational Excellence recipient … Following in the footsteps of sister, Stella 'CC21, who is also a member of the lacrosse team.

PERSONAL: Born June 30, 2000 … Daughter of Tina and Jeffrey Spotts … Has two sisters, Stella and Natalia … Enrolled in Columbia College … Intends to major in political science.