GORHAM, Maine  – Junior Alex Graver (Freeport, Maine) of the University of Southern Maine Huskies men's soccer team has been named the Little East Conference Defensive Player of the Week.  Earning the first weekly award of the 2026 season for the Huskies, Graver is earning a weekly award from the conference for the first time in his career.
 
Graver scored the Huskies' game-winning goal in a 2-1 win over UMass Boston in a 1-1 week for Southern Maine in conference action.  Graver's outstanding direct kick in the 22^nd minute curled around the defensive wall and connected to the upper corner helped USM earn its first win over the Beacons in 13 games, and the first win on the road at Boston since 2007. Anchoring the Huskies' defense at back, Graver helped Southern Maine hold its opponents to a 1.00 goals against average and a 33.5 shots on goal percentage.
 
Southern Maine, 4-5-4 (1-2-2 Little East) is on the road for the next two games at Bates College on Tuesday, October 13 (7:00 pm) and at VTSU-Castleton on Saturday, October 17 (4:00 pm). The Huskies host Maine Maritime Academy on Tuesday, October 20 (7:00 pm).
           
 
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