ROCK HILL, S.C. --- Tusculum University junior goalkeeper Nicolas Leite has been named the WePlayed Sports South Atlantic Conference Men's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week for the week ending Sept. 3, the SAC office announced Tuesday.

Leite recorded a pair of shutouts as the Pioneers opened their season with victories on the road against Lees-McRae on Thursday (1-0) and Barton on Saturday (3-0). The Santo Andre, Brazil native had three saves in the win over Lees-McRae and followed up by making four stops against Barton.

The clean sheets were the first two in the career of Leite, who has made five starts in three seasons with the Pioneers. At 2-0, the Pioneers are off to their best start since 2018.

Tusculum will be on the road to face King in a non-conference match on Wednesday, Sept. 6 at 4 p.m. in Bristol.