Five minutes With A Hardshell is back! This edition's featured hardshell is Roman Puglise, who helped lead Maryland to the 2022 National Championship and perfect 18-0 season. Puglise was also a two-time USILA All-American as well as the 2021 Big Ten Medal of Honor recipient, given to one male and one female student-athlete from the graduating class of each member institution who has demonstrated excellence on and off the field throughout their college career.
Puglise was drafted seventh overall by Whipsnakes LC in 2022 and just finished his second professional season. He also recently began a job as a wealth analyst in the DMV. He credits the program's alumni mentorship program with helping him find his footing in the industry and eventually secure a job.
What made you choose Maryland during your recruitment process?
"It really was the people. It was Coach Tills. It's the guys that were here, the foundation before and the rich history of the program. That's what I fell in love with, the overall environment. They preach Be The Best, but they don't just preach it they live it. They help you grow as a person first, and then you grow as a lacrosse player as well. You come here and you know you're going to win in some shape or form, whether it was on the field or off the field. And it definitely happened."
What was your favorite memory during your time as a Terp?
"There's so many to pick from, but obviously winning the Championship was by far the greatest thing. And that's why you come to college to play sports, it's because you want to hoist that trophy and fortunately we were able to do it. We certainly had our heartbreaks but I think that forged us together for the year that we won it. That group is always bonded together. Our group chat is still going. It's really fun to have those memories."
What makes Maryland such a special place?
"It's the people. It's the relationships. It's all the alumni you get to talk to while you're here that help you find jobs and help you navigate being in college and navigate what's going to come after lacrosse ends. A lot of your life you're defined by being a lacrosse player, but your time runs out pretty fast and you have to find that new version of yourself and the people you're in contact with here really help with that. I think the Be The Best motto and the Be The Best way of living your life carries forever. It starts from the moment you walk on campus until the day you pass away and I think that's something that's truly special here."
What are you doing professionally now?
"I work in the financial industry for a wealth firm where I service clients. I've realized I really love helping families reach their financial goals and it's been a really fulfilling job for me."
How did the Maryland Lacrosse mentorship program help you find that industry and job?
"Mr. Marc Dubick was my mentor here and he and some of the other mentors really helped me figure out what I wanted to do. I studied finance here so I had a little bit of an idea that I wanted to do something with money and with numbers, but Mr. Dubick introduced me to the wealth management aspect and I fell in love with it. I'm very thankful that I went to school at a place that had so many resources available to help with life after college."
