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04/10/2013 12:00 AMAthletes who play the defensive wing position in lacrosse may not always get the same glory as those who score goals, but are still crucial component to any team's success. A prime example of that is North Branford senior Alexa Picciuto.
Alexa is one of the captains for this season's North Branford girls' lacrosse team and, despite playing defense, is a threat to score on any possession. The reason for that is the way she started her career. Alexa has been playing lacrosse for seven years and, prior to high school, she was primarily an attacking player. In fact, she was second on the team in scoring last season despite playing on the defensive side of the field. Since there are two defensive wings on the field at all times, one of them is allowed to enter the attacking zone. It's a system that allows Alexa to showcase her offensive abilities because she puts herself in a position to score.
"I pushed myself to go over because I like to be in the middle of the play," Alexa says.
Alexa played attacking midfielder up until high school, until North Branford Head Coach Lori Connelly noticed her defensive ability. Alexa is quick on her feet and understands the fundamentals of playing well defensively, which has led to her success.
"Coach Connelly told me that she had a lot of hope for me as a defenseman," says Alexa. "From that point out, I realized I had defensive skills to offer so I just kept improving. I do a lot of quick feet defensive drills. I play for another lacrosse team in the offseason and they had a lot to offer with helping me with my defense."
The hard work has paid off for Alexa, who's been recognized by not only her coaches and teammates, but also the Shoreline Conference and the state. As a sophomore, she was named Second Team All-Shoreline and was an Honorable Mention for the All-State team. Last year, she received First Team All-Shoreline honors and was named Second Team All-State. Alexa's coaches also awarded her as the team's best defenseman last season, something she says is a huge boost to her confidence as the team enters this season.
"She communicates, she talks, and she tells the defense where to go," says Connelly of her captain. "She just shows her leadership in the way she plays."
Alexa proves a great leader for the T-Birds because she doesn't feel above her peers on the field. She's bought into the team motto of unity, which has brought her closer to all of her teammates.
"It's just about picking each other up and knowing that, at the end of the day, we're a team and a family," says Alexa. "No matter what, we're in it together. It doesn't even matter about the record at the end of the day. We're a team, we're a whole, and that's what I really look for as a captain."
The T-Birds are expected to be one of the top squads in the Shoreline Conference this season and the team playing together-connecting on passes, scoring goals, and celebrating those goals together-will be a big reason why.
Alexa is setting her personal goals to repeat as an all-conference and All-State player as she thinks those goals are realistic and would help her odds at making the lacrosse team for Southern Connecticut State University next year-something she is striving for.
"I'm excited for my senior campaign to begin," says Alexa. "I can't wait to hit the field with my teammates and go out on a high note excelling in the game I love."