Photo by: Columbia University Athletics/Mike McLaughlin
Lacrosse Welcomes Seven Newcomers
9/7/2022 10:00:00 AM | Lacrosse
Lions introduce Class of 2026
NEW YORK — Columbia lacrosse head coach, Anne Murray, announced the addition of seven first-year Lions to her program on Monday. The class of 2026 features four USA Lacrosse All-Americans, two state champions, and seven all-region/conference honorees.
"We are thrilled to have the class of 2026 on campus," noted Murray. "These Lions come to us from 7 different states with a wide breadth of championship experience. Their passion, energy, and character will push us forward. Welcome home, Lions!"
Riya Batra (M) | Bloomfield Hills, Mich. | Cranbrook Kingswood
BEFORE COLUMBIA: USA Lacrosse All-American (2022, 2021)…Under Armour All-American (2021, 2019, 2018)…Under Armour 150 Selection (2020, 2019)…First Team All-State (2022)…Second Team All-State (2021)…All-Catholic League (2022, 2021, 2019)…2022 Detroit Free Press/USA Today Statewide Lacrosse Honoree…Catholic League Champions (2021)…Regional Champions (2021)…Catholic League Runner-up (2022, 2019)…State Championship Runner-up (2021)…2022 Team Captain…2022 MVP…Led state of Michigan in ground balls (130, 2022)…Also competed in volleyball.
PERSONAL: Born February 2004…Parents are Amit and Rina…Has one brother, Abhi…Uncle graduated from Harvard in 1998…USA Lacrosse Academic All-American (2022, 2021)…Catholic League All-American (2022)…Graduated Cum Laude…Dean's List honoree…Winner of Strickland Writing Award in English (2022)…Enrolled in Columbia College…Intends to major in history.
Cordelia Flemming (M) | Edina, Minn. | Edina High School
BEFORE COLUMBIA: US Lacrosse All-American (2022, 2021)…All-State (2022, 2021)…All-Conference (2022, 2021, 2019)…All-Section (2022, 2021, 2020, 2019)…2022 Minnesota Ms. Lacrosse Finalist…Lake Conference Champions (2022, 2021)…Contributed to a perfect 13-0 season (2021)…Two-time team captain (2022, 201)…2018 Rookie of the Year…Also played basketball.
PERSONAL: Born November 2003…Parents are Sue and Scott…Mother attended Harvard for graduate school…Father attended Brown for undergraduate school…Has additional familial ties to league rivals Penn, Harvard…Has two siblings, Lucas & Olivia…Brother plays baseball at Middlebury…AP Scholar with Distinction…US Lacrosse Academic All-American…US Lacrosse Jackie Pitts Awardee for community service…Minnesota Elite Donovan Leadership Award Winner…Plays the trumpet…Enrolled in Columbia College.
Serena Hong (M) | Bethesda, Md. | Holton-Arms
BEFORE COLUMBIA: US Lacrosse All-American (2022)… Two-time team captain (2022, 2021)…Two-time Most Valuable Player (2022, 2021)… Winner of Cassie Johnson Athletic Award (2022)…Also played field hockey.
PERSONAL: Born March 2004…Daughter of Jessica and Austin Shaw…Father graduated from Columbia Business School '99…Sister, Stephanie, plays at Ivy League rival Harvard…Uncle attended the University of Pennsylvania…US Lacrosse Academic All-American (2021)…Graduated Cum Laude…Departmental Ceramics Awardee (2022)…Enrolled in Columbia College…Intends to major in financial economics.
Annalisa Massaro (A) | Manhasset, N.Y. | Manhasset High School
BEFORE COLUMBIA: New York State Champions (2022)…Long Island Champions (2022)…Nassau County Champions (2022, 2021)…Team Captain (2022)…All Nassau-County Honorable Mention (2022, 2021)…Newsday Long Island Top Lacrosse Player awardee (2022)…Under Armour 150…Selected for WPLL Futures National Championship Summit…Also played volleyball, ran track.
PERSONAL: Born April 2004…Parents are Rosanna and Carlo…Has a twin brother, Giancarlo…Has a younger brother, Marco…Academic All-American…English Honors Society…Italian honors Society…Social Studies Honors Society…Science Honors Society…AP scholar…High Honor Roll...Earned high honors in Italian, PE…Awarded Manhasset Booster Club Unsung Hero…Enrolled in Columbia College.
Cecelia Messner (M) | Pittsburgh, Pa. | Shady Side Academy
BEFORE COLUMBIA: US Lacrosse All-American…All-WPIAL First Team (2022, 2021)…WPIAL Regional Champions (2022, 2021, 2019)…Sectional Champions (2022, 2021, 2019)…Two-time team captain (2022, 201)…Shady Side Academy Dartmouth Award winner…Northern Area Athletic Directors Association Tri-Athlete Award winner…Also played field hockey, ice hockey, and basketball…Earned 12 varsity letters.
PERSONAL: Born May 2004…Daughter of Lauren and Michael…Father played ice hockey at Penn State…Has one sibling, Grayson…Arts Department Associate (2022, 2021, 20120)…Enrolled in Columbia College.
Emma Neclerio (GK) | Fort Lauderdale, Fla. | Cardinal Gibbons High School
BEFORE COLUMBIA: First Team All-District (2022, 2019)…First Team All-County (2022)…Second Team All-District (2021)…Second Team All-County (2021, 2019)…Two-time team captain (2022, 2021)…Member of top-ranked Florida Select Lacrosse (2022).
PERSONAL: Born May 2004…Parents are Michele and Tom…Brother is Andrew…Ranked among class top ten 2019-2022…Senior Board Member, Mu Alpha Theta…VP of Science National Honor Society (2022)…Science National Honor Society (2021, 2020)…AP European History subject awardee (2020)…Winner of multiple Science Olympiad awards…Enrolled in Columbia College…Intends to major in architecture.
Alison Surace (M) | Princeton, N.J. | Princeton Day School
BEFORE COLUMBIA: New Jersey Prep B State Champions (2022)…NJSIAA Non-Public B State Champions (2022)…Team captain (2022)…PDS Varsity Spring Athlete of the Season (2022)…PDS Best Female Athlete (2022)…Trentonian Midfielder of the Year (2022, 201)…First Team All-Prep (2022, 2021)…Trenton Times First Team All-Area (2022,2021)…Trenton Times All-Prep (2022, 2021)…Trentonian All-Prep (2019)…Team Most Valuable Player (2022)…Also played soccer and basketball.
PERSONAL: Born August 2003…Parents are Lisa (Princeton '92) and Bob (Princeton '90)…Father is Head Coach of Princeton University Football…Mother played soccer at Princeton, father played football…Cousin, Jonathan, attended Columbia '11CC…Has one sibling, AJ…NHSCA Academic All-American…Graduated Cum Laude…Gold Service award (100+ hours; 2022, 2021)…Enrolled in Columbia College.
For the latest on Columbia lacrosse, follow @CULionsLax on Twitter and Instagram, on Facebook at Facebook.com/ColumbiaLax and on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.
"We are thrilled to have the class of 2026 on campus," noted Murray. "These Lions come to us from 7 different states with a wide breadth of championship experience. Their passion, energy, and character will push us forward. Welcome home, Lions!"
Riya Batra (M) | Bloomfield Hills, Mich. | Cranbrook Kingswood
BEFORE COLUMBIA: USA Lacrosse All-American (2022, 2021)…Under Armour All-American (2021, 2019, 2018)…Under Armour 150 Selection (2020, 2019)…First Team All-State (2022)…Second Team All-State (2021)…All-Catholic League (2022, 2021, 2019)…2022 Detroit Free Press/USA Today Statewide Lacrosse Honoree…Catholic League Champions (2021)…Regional Champions (2021)…Catholic League Runner-up (2022, 2019)…State Championship Runner-up (2021)…2022 Team Captain…2022 MVP…Led state of Michigan in ground balls (130, 2022)…Also competed in volleyball.
PERSONAL: Born February 2004…Parents are Amit and Rina…Has one brother, Abhi…Uncle graduated from Harvard in 1998…USA Lacrosse Academic All-American (2022, 2021)…Catholic League All-American (2022)…Graduated Cum Laude…Dean's List honoree…Winner of Strickland Writing Award in English (2022)…Enrolled in Columbia College…Intends to major in history.
Cordelia Flemming (M) | Edina, Minn. | Edina High School
BEFORE COLUMBIA: US Lacrosse All-American (2022, 2021)…All-State (2022, 2021)…All-Conference (2022, 2021, 2019)…All-Section (2022, 2021, 2020, 2019)…2022 Minnesota Ms. Lacrosse Finalist…Lake Conference Champions (2022, 2021)…Contributed to a perfect 13-0 season (2021)…Two-time team captain (2022, 201)…2018 Rookie of the Year…Also played basketball.
PERSONAL: Born November 2003…Parents are Sue and Scott…Mother attended Harvard for graduate school…Father attended Brown for undergraduate school…Has additional familial ties to league rivals Penn, Harvard…Has two siblings, Lucas & Olivia…Brother plays baseball at Middlebury…AP Scholar with Distinction…US Lacrosse Academic All-American…US Lacrosse Jackie Pitts Awardee for community service…Minnesota Elite Donovan Leadership Award Winner…Plays the trumpet…Enrolled in Columbia College.
Serena Hong (M) | Bethesda, Md. | Holton-Arms
BEFORE COLUMBIA: US Lacrosse All-American (2022)… Two-time team captain (2022, 2021)…Two-time Most Valuable Player (2022, 2021)… Winner of Cassie Johnson Athletic Award (2022)…Also played field hockey.
PERSONAL: Born March 2004…Daughter of Jessica and Austin Shaw…Father graduated from Columbia Business School '99…Sister, Stephanie, plays at Ivy League rival Harvard…Uncle attended the University of Pennsylvania…US Lacrosse Academic All-American (2021)…Graduated Cum Laude…Departmental Ceramics Awardee (2022)…Enrolled in Columbia College…Intends to major in financial economics.
Annalisa Massaro (A) | Manhasset, N.Y. | Manhasset High School
BEFORE COLUMBIA: New York State Champions (2022)…Long Island Champions (2022)…Nassau County Champions (2022, 2021)…Team Captain (2022)…All Nassau-County Honorable Mention (2022, 2021)…Newsday Long Island Top Lacrosse Player awardee (2022)…Under Armour 150…Selected for WPLL Futures National Championship Summit…Also played volleyball, ran track.
PERSONAL: Born April 2004…Parents are Rosanna and Carlo…Has a twin brother, Giancarlo…Has a younger brother, Marco…Academic All-American…English Honors Society…Italian honors Society…Social Studies Honors Society…Science Honors Society…AP scholar…High Honor Roll...Earned high honors in Italian, PE…Awarded Manhasset Booster Club Unsung Hero…Enrolled in Columbia College.
Cecelia Messner (M) | Pittsburgh, Pa. | Shady Side Academy
BEFORE COLUMBIA: US Lacrosse All-American…All-WPIAL First Team (2022, 2021)…WPIAL Regional Champions (2022, 2021, 2019)…Sectional Champions (2022, 2021, 2019)…Two-time team captain (2022, 201)…Shady Side Academy Dartmouth Award winner…Northern Area Athletic Directors Association Tri-Athlete Award winner…Also played field hockey, ice hockey, and basketball…Earned 12 varsity letters.
PERSONAL: Born May 2004…Daughter of Lauren and Michael…Father played ice hockey at Penn State…Has one sibling, Grayson…Arts Department Associate (2022, 2021, 20120)…Enrolled in Columbia College.
Emma Neclerio (GK) | Fort Lauderdale, Fla. | Cardinal Gibbons High School
BEFORE COLUMBIA: First Team All-District (2022, 2019)…First Team All-County (2022)…Second Team All-District (2021)…Second Team All-County (2021, 2019)…Two-time team captain (2022, 2021)…Member of top-ranked Florida Select Lacrosse (2022).
PERSONAL: Born May 2004…Parents are Michele and Tom…Brother is Andrew…Ranked among class top ten 2019-2022…Senior Board Member, Mu Alpha Theta…VP of Science National Honor Society (2022)…Science National Honor Society (2021, 2020)…AP European History subject awardee (2020)…Winner of multiple Science Olympiad awards…Enrolled in Columbia College…Intends to major in architecture.
Alison Surace (M) | Princeton, N.J. | Princeton Day School
BEFORE COLUMBIA: New Jersey Prep B State Champions (2022)…NJSIAA Non-Public B State Champions (2022)…Team captain (2022)…PDS Varsity Spring Athlete of the Season (2022)…PDS Best Female Athlete (2022)…Trentonian Midfielder of the Year (2022, 201)…First Team All-Prep (2022, 2021)…Trenton Times First Team All-Area (2022,2021)…Trenton Times All-Prep (2022, 2021)…Trentonian All-Prep (2019)…Team Most Valuable Player (2022)…Also played soccer and basketball.
PERSONAL: Born August 2003…Parents are Lisa (Princeton '92) and Bob (Princeton '90)…Father is Head Coach of Princeton University Football…Mother played soccer at Princeton, father played football…Cousin, Jonathan, attended Columbia '11CC…Has one sibling, AJ…NHSCA Academic All-American…Graduated Cum Laude…Gold Service award (100+ hours; 2022, 2021)…Enrolled in Columbia College.
For the latest on Columbia lacrosse, follow @CULionsLax on Twitter and Instagram, on Facebook at Facebook.com/ColumbiaLax and on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.
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