With his senior campaign having come to a close, Caiden Lung has proven multiple times to be an asset to the boys’ varsity lacrosse team’s success.
Lung is no stranger to the game of lacrosse as he has been playing since the age of four. From Lynbrook Titans as a kid, all the way to club lacrosse, Lung has dedicated an unfathomable amount of time to the sport. “The first team I played for was the Lynbrook Titans PAL league. Outside of Lynbrook, I used to play for the travel lacrosse club Legacy. I was on the Legacy Taz ‘24 team,” he explained. Since he has immersed himself in the sport for so long, Lung has had the chance to experience playing several positions before settling down in front of the net: “I started as a midfielder and started playing goalie full-time in fourth grade.”
Lung has garnered many supporters throughout his lacrosse career, but noted that his parents are the biggest ones. “My parents took me to all my practices, games, and tournaments. They were always supporting me throughout my lacrosse journey. They spent countless hours and resources for me to have the opportunity to play lacrosse, which I can’t thank them enough for,” Lung shared. He also explained that his love for the game grew because of his father: “My dad was the one who started having a catch with me when I was four, and got me into the sport at such a young age, which I am so thankful for.”
When asked about his advice for younger players who are either beginners to the sport or considering playing, Lung’s advice was simple: “Just have fun. Develop a love and passion for the game so much that you can’t wait to play again. If you do this, and stay disciplined and consistently work on your game, you will get better.”
After playing lacrosse for almost 15 years, it goes without saying that Lung has made countless memories. When asked about which one was his favorite, he did not hesitate to say “winning the Naptown National Challenge with my travel team Legacy in 2021.” He added, “It was streamed on ESPN U, and I won defensive player of the game. We played at Navy Stadium, and it was a great atmosphere and experience.”
Lung is also admired by his teammates and coaches. Junior Chris Paladino praised Lung, and said, “Caiden has kept us in every game at some point. Having him in [the] net is a huge confidence boost. He makes saves that can change the momentum of a situation.” Lung is also the leader of the defense, and he serves as a role model for the rest of his teammates. “He leads [by] example, as well as doing it vocally. He is a force in net and is able to command the defense,” Paladino added.
Varsity lacrosse coach William Luzzi had nothing but positive things to say about Lung when asked about his leadership and how it has contributed to the team’s success: “Caiden leads by example; he is always working hard, and it’s contagious. He is a student athlete who is wise beyond his years and often contributes to the overall character of the team. Guys look up to him and respect his position on the team.” Luzzi made sure to note that Lung’s influence did not come at the expense of performance: “Caiden makes saves like no goalie I have ever seen. His reflexes are extremely fast. He makes acrobatic saves; he makes the saves that you need to make.” Luzzi was most impressed by Lung’s reliability on the field and wants all his players to strive to be as reliable as Lung: “We play a zone defense, and the anchor to a zone defense is a good goalie,” added Luzzi.
After playing in Lynbrook his whole life, Lung is embarking on a new journey with his commitment to Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he will continue his academic and lacrosse careers. “I’m committed to playing at MIT next year, and I hope to make a difference there. I want to be a big part of the team and contribute as a player and a teammate. When the opportunity comes, I hope I take advantage and make the best out of it,” Lung smiled.
