ST. LOUIS – Missouri State sophomore Jack Denton earned Missouri Valley Conference Men's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week, the league announced on Tuesday (Sept. 10).
 
In Missouri State's only game last week, Denton collected two assists and helped the Bears secure a second straight shutout with a 3-0 win over Kansas City on Saturday.  

Playing primarily as a defensive midfielder, Denton played a key role in the Bears' defense that held KC to a total of three shots.  MSU (2-0) has opened the 2019 season with back-to-back shutouts, allowing only three shots on goal through the first two matches.
 
Denton scored his first career points for the Bears off of a pair of corner kicks in Saturday's match with KC.  His first assist came on a set piece in the 63rd minute where he found Will Osgathorpe for a header.  Denton connected on another corner kick in the 81st minute, finding Hugo Jönsson for a late goal to secure the win for the Bears.

The sophomore midfielder from Buckinghamshire, U.K. earns his first conference accolade after starting both matches for the Bears to open the season, following up his debut season last year where he appeared in 12 matches.
 
Missouri State returns to Betty and Bobby Allison South Stadium tonight (Sept. 7) with a matchup against Central Arkansas at 7:00 p.m.