BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – For the third time this season, Bridgewater State University graduate goalkeeper William Russell has been selected as the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Men's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week.

Russell backstopped the Bears to a pair of shutouts in a perfect 2-0 week. The Sandwich, Massachusetts product made six saves in a 6-0 MASCAC shutout victory over Westfield State University and turned aside two shots in a 3-0 shutout win over UMass Dartmouth.

Through 15 games this season, Russell is 9-4-2 with four shutouts and a 1.01 goals against average in 1,340-plus minutes (1340:26) of work. He has turned aside 90 shots and currently sports an .857 save percentage.

Russell presently leads the MASCAC in minutes played, wins and saves. He is also second among the conference leaders in shutouts and ranks third in both goals against average and save percentage.

In 45 games over four seasons at Bridgewater State, Russell is 22-14-8 with 11 1/2 shutouts, a 1.21 goals against average, 269 saves and an .835 save percentage in just under 3,954 minutes (3953:53) of work. He is seventh among the Bears' all-time goaltending leaders in wins and sixth in shutouts.

Russell also earned the MASCAC weekly honor on September 18th and October 9th.

The BSU men's soccer team is currently 9-2-4 on the season and 5-0-1 in the MASCAC. The Bears travel to Rhode Island College tomorrow afternoon for a four o'clock game with the Anchormen.