Cassidy Orzel has not needed long to make an impact across three sports at Wyoming Area.
The freshman was a varsity contributor in field hockey, appearing in most games, in the fall. She was a key reserve again in basketball season where she turned in a 17-point effort the first time she got a chance to start.
Although lacrosse, her spring choice for competition, is Orzel’s newest sport, she is quickly becoming a threat there.
A starting midfielder, Orzel scored her first career hat trick Monday to lead Wyoming Area in scoring when the Lady Warriors turned back host Pittston Area, 11-7, in a Wyoming Valley Conference game.
Wyoming Area has improved to 5-5 this season with the help of a strong freshman class that gained experience by joining the Valley Laxerz youth lacrosse program.
Orzel got her introduction to the sport there last season when a friend convinced her to give it a try. She has put to use the athleticism she developed on the court while playing basketball since second grade.
“It was a lot harder than I expected it to be with all the hand-eye coordination you had to learn,” said Orzel, who, after being talked into going to a practice, quickly found she loved playing lacrosse. “But, with help from all my friends and coaches, they taught me at the practices every week.”
Orzel took the ball off a draw and sprinted down field for one of her goals and converted passes from teammates on the other two against Pittston Area. She played against four of her Valley Laxerz teammates in the game.
“Since Pittston is our rival, it’s always a bigger deal playing them,” she said.
The three-goal effort continued a successful first season on the high school level.
“I didn’t expect to be playing as much as I have been, but all the upperclassmen have helped me and the other freshmen to get used to it,” Orzel said. “They teach us things and definitely help us in games.”
Tierney Porfirio and Amanda McCormick each finished with two goals for Wyoming Area, which took a 7-4 halftime lead. Caity Butchko, Lily Donnolly, Lindsey Pozic and Madison Johnson also scored.
Nina Cirelli had three goals for Pittston Area. Bailey Jordan scored two while Callie Kipp and Kristen Walters had one each.
