Lakeland, Fla. --- Freshman Ollie Stephens has been named Sunshine State Conference Defensive Player of the Week for his contributions in a 2-0 weekend for the Mocs, as announced by the conference office on Tuesday afternoon (Sep. 8).

The freshman was a major contributing factor in the team's 3-0 victory against Delta State, adding the opening (and game-winning) goal in the tenth minute. He also commanded the defense to only allow eight shots by the Statesmen, including only a singular one in the opening 54 minutes of the match for the clean sheet. Against Mississippi Christian, he would play all 90 minutes four the third time this season and limited the Choctaws to just two shots on target all day. 

Stephens has already racked up two goals and helped secure three clean sheets already in the Mocs' four matches in the early season, and has played all but seven minutes on the pitch, the most by a non-goalkeeper on the squad. He also is the first freshman to receive Defensive Player of the Week honors since Clay Roberts in 2000 and the first non-goalie to win it since Claus Lehland in 2018.

Stephens and the Mocs gear up to continue their road stretch against Saint Leo in a non-conference bout on Thursday evening (Sep. 10) with kickoff set for 7 PM.