Valparaiso University men’s soccer defender Omar Lawrence (Kingston, Jamaica/Excelsior) was named Horizon League Defensive Player of the Week today after anchoring the Crusaders’ back line in a pair of clean sheets last week.

The center back has anchored the back line during Valpo’s current five-match shutout streak, which has tied a program record. Lawrence played every minute during last week’s two clean sheets, as the Crusaders shut out #23 Omaha – their second shutout of a ranked team in a week’s time – and Milwaukee. The Crusaders are currently sitting at 552 consecutive minutes without letting up a goal, just six minutes away from tying the program record.

Last week’s two shutouts give the Crusaders six for the season, tying them for sixth in the nation. Valpo also ranks among the top-10 in the nation in goals against average (0.55) as well.

This is the second time Lawrence has been named Horizon League Defensive Player of the Week in his career, the first coming last season. Lawrence and the rest of the Crusaders return to the pitch Saturday night at Wright State, with kickoff slated for 6 p.m. CT.