On a women’s lacrosse squad filled with talented, experienced returning players, tri-captain Sarah Orkin ’09 stands out for her consistency as a midfielder and a perennial scoring threat for the Cardinals. She led the team in goals and points in 2008, tucking 29 on the season and dishing out 4 helpers for a total of 33 points. Her production on the field earned her second-team all-NESCAC recognition; she was also named and a first-team regional IWLCA All-Star.

While Wesleyan went 7-9 in 2008, the team dominated its non-conference opponents and kept it close against nationally ranked NESCAC powerhouses such as Tufts and Amherst. A highlight of the season included the Cards enjoying a huge win in early April against Little Three rival Williams. Wesleyan snapped a 25-game losing streak against the Ephs in a 9-8 come-from-behind nail-biter that Orkin tied up with her second goal of the game. Over the course of her time wearing the red and black, Orkin has accumulated 86 points, finding the back of the net 76 times and contributing 10 assists. She’ll look this season to join the pantheon of 100-point scorers for Wesleyan, a level reached by few since the program’s inception in 1976.

Orkin and fellow tri-captains Lisa Zweigenhaft ’09 and Laurel Sticklor ’09 will have a tough schedule to contend with, however, as they are set to square off against eight top-20 teams in this year’s campaign, including Amherst, an opponent the redbirds have not beaten since 1994. Look for the Cards to come out swinging in 2009 as they defend their turf in next Saturday’s home opener against the Bowdoin Polar Bears.