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06/27/2023 12:02 PMAlex Cushing craves the need for speed when it comes to his attraction to the game of lacrosse, and his high-octane outlook as a player and competitor fueled his fire quite well as a constant moving force on the field.
Alex, a senior midfielder for the Hand boys’ lacrosse team, tallied 28 goals and 10 assists this spring for a grand total of 38 points and averaged 1.1 scores per contest, as the Tigers reached the SCC Tournament semifinals and Class M State Tournament final–the program’s sixth appearance in the state’s final round since 2015–following an 11-5 regular season.
“I just have always loved the pace of the game; it is the fastest game on two feet, and I love all the positions you can play,” says Alex. “The upperclassmen I played with when I was younger were a big help for me. Being a sophomore on varsity, you see how hard everyone worked and how bad they wanted it. Once I saw that, I knew I could be a starter, and I wanted to push myself.”
With that frenetic pace of play, the ball movement can whip lesser players into a frenzy, yet Alex ascends above that anxiety. He takes his time to let the play develop before firing either a swift swipe at the net, or pressure-packed pass for the all-important assist.
“Reading the field is big in my decision-making process of when to shoot or pass,” Alex says. “With being on both sides of the field, I can see if an attacker is open for a pass, or if I can go for a goal. Knowing your surroundings is important, too.”
John Orlando, Hand boys’ lacrosse Head Coach, explains that Alex is a unique player in that he can both defend the ball and put it in the back of the cage with a multitude of methods while garnering the respect and utmost attention of opposing teams’ players and coaching staff in their scheme and strategy.
“Alex is a midfielder that does everything for his team all over the field,” says Orlando. “He is an indispensable player that plays great defense, clears the ball, is strong in transition, can dodge on offense, and has a hard, accurate outside shot. He is a tireless midfielder that can play all day and gives 100% on the field at all times. Midfielders are often overlooked, because they do both offense and defense but are very important for a team’s success. Alex often draws the long pole midfielder because all of our opponents respect his ability to score on offense. This makes his job tougher but he has found a way to produce. Alex is another player that has put in the time in the offseason since his youth days to get where he is today in lacrosse. Alex is another guy who leads by example and is a hard worker that the other players look up to on the team.”
The duality that comes with playing both ends of the turf with manning the midfield comes through in Alex’s sentiments surrounding playing the position. He admits it can be quite a grind shifting so suddenly from offense to defense and vice versa, but it is a greuling endeavor he enjoys.
“The physical aspect of the position can be tough. As a midfielder, you are running more than everyone else on the field while playing offense and defense. You have to get back quickly when the other team goes on a fast break,” Alex says. “Yet playing both sides is also my favorite part of playing the position.”
While sharpening his skill set with the tool of his trade in his hands, Alex’s aim, accuracy, and air has exponentially progressed. Mentally, he has also gained fortitude when it comes to sticking it out through the inevitable thick and thin that comes with each campaign.
“My stick skills and shooting ability have improved. My ability to shoot on the run has gotten better, and I have gotten a good lift on my shots,” says Alex. “We had a couple of tough games, and the middle of the season was tough. Those were the points where we had to work the hardest. You learn that you have to keep your head up and take a step back. The tough times also show who really wants to be there.”
Though not an official captain this spring, Alex asserted himself as a sound steward to the remainder of the squad by helping his younger teammates grasp new attributes and excel with them inside the confines of a contest.
“Being able to teach people new things makes you feel good about yourself,” Alex says. “It is also great knowing that they will take your feedback and do something good with it.”
With great sideline mentors at their disposal, Alex and Hand came together to make several state tournament final runs throughout his tenure as a Tiger–giving him a quintessential boost of confidence to accomplish whatever he sets his mind to as he moves into the next chapter of his life.
“Being around Coach Orlando teaches you so many good things both on and off the field,” says Alex. “I have been able to take so many things away and know I will be successful. This past season meant the world to me; we did well within the SCC, and the state semifinals win against Notre Dame-West Haven was the most electrifying moment of the year.”