KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The NAIA announced that UT Southern's Louis Hester has been named the NAIA Men's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week, following a dominant stretch in goal that included a historic shutout over the nation's top-ranked team.

Hester anchored the Firehawks' defense in a 2-0 victory over No. 1 Dalton State, making five crucial saves to lead UT Southern to one of the program's biggest wins in recent memory. The result snapped the Roadrunners' 37-match unbeaten streak and 50-match home unbeaten run that dated back to November 9, 2019—when Dalton State last lost at home to Martin Methodist (now UT Southern) in the SSAC Quarterfinals.

In the upset, Hester and the Firehawks' back line turned away 11 shots and nine corner kicks, with the senior goalkeeper making key stops late in the match to preserve the clean sheet.

Hester followed that performance with another strong showing against No. 19 Life, recording eight saves in a narrow 2-1 defeat, with the deciding goal coming on a late penalty kick.

He finished the week with 13 total saves and one clean sheet, helping the Firehawks improve to 6-4-2 overall and 2-3-1 in Southern States Athletic Conference play.

For more on this week's NAIA Players of the Week, visit NAIA.org.

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