Devastator of the week

Name: Graham Pugh `22 

Sport: Men’s Soccer 

Hometown: Phoenixville, Pennsylvania

The Devastator of the Week is Graham Pugh `22 of the men’s soccer team, a leader on and off the field. Pugh is a four-year starter and team veteran who is currently captaining his team to their second playoff run in his four years.

Commanding the team from center-back, Pugh keeps the whole field in vision and is integral to his team’s smash-ball style of play, as they favor long shots down the field to run onto rather than build-up play and possession. Colby’s style makes the role of center back more difficult than it already is.

Combining quick-twitch acceleration, composed passing, and heads-up leadership, Pugh took his team to Amherst this weekend in a shut-out, penalty shootout thriller. Pugh’s defense withstood 21 Amherst shots without letting in a single goal. Come shootout time, Pugh’s team was composed and clinical, having won three penalty shootouts in Pugh’s first year run, when Colby Men’s Soccer took home the NESCAC championship. Next up, the Mules will travel to New London, CT to take on Connecticut College in the NESCAC semifinals.

Pugh took some time to discuss his season performance with The Colby Echo.

The Colby Echo (Echo): Do you have any pregame superstitions?

Graham Pugh (GP): Yeah, I do. I always put my left sock on first, then right sock, right cleat then left cleat, left shin guard then right shin guard. I also always tape my wrists and put the initials of my parents on the right wrist and the initials of my youth coach who convinced me to play college sports on my left.

Echo: On a similar note, what do you do the night before a game? What do you eat?

GP: The night before the game, our coach mandates chicken and pasta. Nothing more and nothing less. Always. I often watch a show and try my best to use my brain the least I can so that I have full mental capacity for the game the next day.

Echo: When is an acceptable time to use the bathroom before the game for a big unload?

GP: Immediately after getting off the bus and getting into the locker room. We have a strict no pooping on the bus policy.

Echo: Having made a deep playoff run freshman year, how do you feel about your team this year and how far you can take them?

GP: This team is the most naturally talented and gifted team with the most depth that I have seen here in my time at Colby. 

We know that we can go toe to toe with anyone in the country on any given day. We proved this when we tied three-time national champions Tufts earlier this season, but we have to continue to prove we can do so on a consistent basis as we have struggled with form.

As a captain of this team, I just hope to inspire my teammates through tireless work ethic and showing bravery in competition. We have what it takes to run deep, we just need consistent performances. Historically, as underdogs in the league, we do best with our backs against the ropes, and here we are in November with a fighting chance at another league championship and NCAA tournament berth.

Echo: In a fight to the death using only your bare hands would you rather take on 100 baby-sized adults or 100 adult-sized babies?

GP: 100 adult-sized babies. They can’t put their brains together to defeat me.

Echo: What is your favorite cereal and how many bowls a day?

GP: Fruity Pebbles has always been a favorite of mine. I don’t eat much cereal anymore, but when I do I’ll house three to four bowls.

~ Will Bedingfield ’22