WASHINGTON – It is hard to believe that a season heartbreakingly cut so short will also go down as one of the most transformative in program history. But that's exactly what happened with the American University lacrosse team, and it was in large part due to the remarkable senior campaign of attacker Casey Harkins who added yet another program milestone as she became the first Eagle selected as an IWLCA/Stringking Player of the Week on Tuesday, March 17.
 
The honor came after a series of staggering performances from the Poolesville, Md., native, who helped lead the team to its first undefeated nonconference run in program history and earned four program records in the process, including single-season assists (34) after only seven games. Of those four records, three came after a single performance – in the Eagles' final game of the season against Presbyterian on March 10.
 
Harkins led AU's dominant performance during the 19-9 win over the Blue Hose, breaking single-game records in total points (12) and assists (11). Those 11 assists also tied the single-game Division I record and brought her up to 34 for the season to surpass the previous AU record, held by classmate Erica Skowron.
 
Those 34 assists also skyrocketed her to the top of the program's career chart, eclipsing the previous record held by Olivia Mangan (59) with 61.
 
"I definitely could not have done this without my teammates or coaches, and I am so grateful to have had them all alongside me for this short but successful season," Harkins said. "Going into this season, I think we all had the same mindset and goal to prove people wrong. We were definitely the underdogs this year, but the team worked so hard every single day to have the success that we did."
 
Harkins' numbers in her senior season are staggering. She entered 2020 after a breakout junior campaign, starting in 10 of her 17 games and earning 18 goals, 21 assists, and 39 points – all career-highs. In only seven games this season, she tied that record with 18 goals but crushed her previous career-highs with 34 assists and 52 total points, ranking atop the final Division I rankings in both categories.
 
Although the Eagles are among the many programs across the country reeling from an abruptly shortened season, there is certainly no shortage of highlights, of which Harkins counts as one.

For more, stay tuned to AUEagles.com throughout the week, and follow the team on Twitter (@AU_Lacrosse) and Instagram (@au_wlax).