ST. LOUIS – Missouri State’s Harry Townsend earned Missouri Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors for the second time this season, the league announced today.
Townsend, who also received the accolade on Sept. 6, was selected after a pair of clean sheets against conference foes SIUE and Belmont on Oct. 19 and Oct. 23.
Against SIUE, Townsend helped shut out the Cougars in the Bears’ 3-0 win to keep the team undefeated in the MVC. Against Belmont, Townsend showed more of the same defensive prowess in the net for MSU, registering four saves to shut out the Bears’ ninth opponent of the year. He played all 180 minutes in goal in the Bears’ two contests, making his 12th and 13th starts this season.
The Cornwall, England, native has helped the Bears reach third in the nation in shutout percentage while individually being tied for second in the category. Townsend is just two matches shy of matching the Missouri State single-season shutout record of 11 clean sheets in one year.
MSU will host Drake on Friday night at 6 p.m. for Senior Night as part of Homecoming weekend. Admission is free at all home soccer matches at Allison South Stadium this season.
