Illinois Springfield's goalkeeper, Joe Brudnak, has been honored as the GLVC Defensive Player of the Week following two shutouts and two wins this past weekend. 

Brudnak, a true freshman from Springfield, Ill., was able to preserve shutouts in both contests this weekend, only needing to make a total of four saves. 

In Friday's game against Truman State, a 2-0 win at Kiwanis Stadium, Brudnak was only tested once, but made a pivotal stop to keep the Bulldogs off the board. 

Sunday's match at Quincy proved to be a tougher task with the Hawks firing off nine shots. Brudnak was only called into action three of those times, as the goalkeeper and entire UIS defense secured a perfect weekend with a late goal to earn a 1-0 win. 

This is Brudnak's first Defensive Player of the Week honor, having only made three starts in his collegiate career. The last Prairie Star to earn Defensive Player of the Week was Marijn van Wandelen on Oct. 17, 2022.

The Prairie Stars currently hold a 2-2-1 overall record and are 2-0-1 against GLVC opponents. UIS returns to action on Friday to celebrate Homecoming with an expected kickoff time at 7:30.