Columbia
1-0
Sacred Heart
0-2
Zhai’s Eight-Point Outburst Powers Lacrosse Past Sacred Heart in 2026 Opener
2/14/2026 7:45:00 PM | Lacrosse
Career performances from Zhai and Messner fuel 14-5 season-opening victory
FAIRFIELD, Conn. - The Columbia lacrosse team opened the 2026 season with a commanding 14-5 win over Sacred Heart on Saturday afternoon at Campus Field.
With the win, the Lions improve to 1-0 and have now won their season opener in four of the past five seasons. Sacred Heart falls to 0-2.
It was a career day for both Michelle Zhai and Cecelia Messner. Zhai finished with four goals and four assists for eight points, setting career highs in both goals and total points. Her eight-point performance the fourth-most in a single game in program history. Cecelia Messner added three goals and a career-high four assists, good for a new career-high of seven points.
Anna Becker contributed two goals and two assists, while Maddie Brogan scored twice in the victory.
Columbia jumped out early, scoring the game's first four goals. Messner opened the scoring at 14:02 of the first quarter, followed by tallies from Zhai, Brogan and Becker to make it 4-0 before Sacred Heart got on the board late in the period. The Lions carried a 4-1 advantage into the second and extended the lead to 6-1 on a man-up goal from Messner and a finish from Grace Hoverman, the first goal of her career.
Sacred Heart answered with three goals in the middle of the second quarter to cut the margin to two, but Zhai delivered a momentum swing late in the half with a man-down goal at 3:16 to send Columbia into the break up 7-4.
The Lions limited the Pioneers to zero goals in the third quarter, with Brogan and Zhai scoring to stretch the lead to 9-4. Columbia then pulled away in the fourth, netting five goals, including three man-up tallies, to seal the win. Late goals in the final minute from Kate Quigley and Emma Row capped the scoring and marked the first collegiate goals of their careers.
In goal, Ava Kimche made 11 saves in 57:40 to earn the win. Columbia outshot Sacred Heart 38-26 and held a 29-16 advantage in shots on goal. The Lions also controlled the draw circle, 14-8, and converted four woman-up opportunities. Columbia caused seven turnovers, forced 16 total Sacred Heart turnovers, and went 18-of-21 on clears in the victory.
The Lions will return to NYC for their home opener on Wednesday, February 18 against Lafayette. Columbia will take on the Leopards at 2 p.m. at Kraft Field.
