Men's Soccer Announces 2023 Class

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Head coach David Costa has announced Belmont University men's soccer's newcomers for the upcoming fall 2023 campaign as the Bruins head into their third overall season in the highly-competitive Missouri Valley Conference. Belmont welcomes a total of eight for its 2023 class, including four freshmen and four transfers.
 
Junior defender Alex Clayton and freshman midfielder Connor MacLean both arrived on campus in January and will be joined by freshman defender AJ Elliott, junior forward Jimiyu Mark, sophomore defender Nate Mefford, junior midfielder Rubyn Singh Gill, freshman defender Dru Stanton and freshman goalkeeper Drew Vinson later this summer to begin preseason training. The eight-man class will only add further depth and experience to the Bruins' well-established roster.
 
"Following our first season back in the MVC, the coaching staff spent a lot of time evaluating our performance and what we felt was important to compete for a MVC championship," commented coach Costa. "We feel that we have been able to recruit an exceptional group of players who also possess the values that will continue to enhance our culture. A special thanks goes out to assistant coaches Cam Olson and Anthony Torres for all the work that they have put into building this class."
 
Coach Costa continued, "I am very excited to finally announce our class and be able to integrate our newcomers into a very strong and hungry group of returning players in the coming weeks."
 
Alex Clayton | Junior | Defender | Wellington, New Zealand | Wellington College | West Virginia
Attending Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand following his secondary education, Clayton began his collegiate soccer career at Sun Belt Conference member West Virginia where he saw action in eight matches last fall. Earning a pair of starts, Clayton logged over 200 minutes on the pitch and recorded a pair of shots, including one on target. Prior to his time in the United States, Clayton played seven seasons for Western Suburbs FC and also spent time with the Wellington Phoenix Reserves. He attended the U-20 and U-17 New Zealand National Team training camps and was a 2021 New Zealand National League First Team selection. Clayton also helped his club win National League and Central League championships in 2019.
 
Connor MacLean | Freshman | Midfielder | Gallatin, Tenn. | Station Camp HS
Playing alongside sophomore midfielder Ethan Schlegel at Station Camp High School and with Tennessee United Soccer Club, MacLean was a two-time Tennessee Sports Writers Association (TSWA) Class AAA selection. MacLean helped lead the Bison to a Class 3A Region 5 championship in 2021 and was tabbed district MVP. In his final varsity season, MacLean scored 15 goals and assisted on another 16 while aiding Station Camp back to the regional title match. For his efforts he was named both All-Midstate First Team by The Tennessean and Main Street Preps All-Sumner County First Team. A three-time state champion at the club level, Connor is the younger brother of Cade MacLean, who was with the Belmont program in 2021.
 
AJ Elliott | Freshman | Defender | Franklin, Tenn. | Franklin HS
Also a local product, Elliott was a three-year starter at Franklin High School where he helped lead the Admirals to three consecutive state playoff appearances. An all-district performer, Elliott was named All-Midstate Second Team by The Tennessean as a senior. Picking up Williamson Herald Gateway Tire Athlete of the Week honors as a junior, Elliott assisted Franklin in winning multiple district and region championships. A starter for Tennessee Soccer Club of the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL), Elliott represented the state of Tennessee in the US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program (ODP). Originally from San Diego, California, Elliott also lettered in football as a kicker.
 
Jimiyu Mark | Junior | Forward | Houston, Texas | Klein HS | Salt Lake Community College
Playing for one of the top junior college programs in the nation the last two years, Mark was a part of back-to-back national semifinalist teams while at Salt Lake Community College in Utah. Helping the Bruins to a No. 1 ranking in his sophomore season, Mark started 16 of Salt Lake's 17 matches and tallied 12 points with six goals en route to claiming a spot on the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) All-Region 18 Second Team. Of his 17 shots, 10 were on target for a shot on goal percentage of .588. In his inaugural collegiate season in 2021, Mark earned a pair of starts and appeared in four matches. He scored a goal and assisted on another as a freshman, placing four of his five shots on target. Mark prepped at Klein High School just north of Houston, Texas, and was a member of the Houston Dynamo FC Academy.
 
Nate Mefford | Sophomore | Defender | Cincinnati, Ohio | Homeschool | Utah Valley University
A four-year captain and four-time MVP during his varsity career, Mefford led his homeschool team to a national championship as a freshman in 2018. Following his standout prep play, Mefford spent his opening collegiate season at Western Athletic Conference member Utah Valley University where he appeared in a trio of matches for the Wolverines and saw action on the pitch at top-10 ranked Washington. Mefford competed for Cincinnati United Premier and played for Ohio Elite in 2021-22. He also served as his high school football program's kicker.
 
Rubyn Singh Gill | Junior | Midfielder | Leicester, England | Lutterworth College | Central Arkansas
An experienced NCAA Division I midfielder, Singh Gill spent his first three seasons at the University of Central Arkansas where he started all 37 matches he competed in. A part of back-to-back ASUN Conference Championship title matches as a Bear, Singh Gill will have two seasons of eligibility at Belmont. Finishing his time at Central Arkansas with seven goals and three assists, Singh Gill posted 42 total shots and placed 20 of those on target for a shot on goal percentage of .476. As a true freshman, Singh Gill found the back of the net three times and put together a two-goal performance in a win over Kansas City. He logged over 1,200 minutes in each of his first two campaigns and scored two goals and distributed an assist in both his sophomore and junior seasons. In a single-goal match against the Bruins in 2021, Singh Gill played all 90 minutes and launched a game-high four shots with two landing on target. Prior to his collegiate career, Singh Gill played for Leicester City FC U18 and Solihull Moors FC U19.
 
Dru Stanton | Freshman | Defender | Peachtree City, Ga. | McIntosh HS
One of the top players in the state of Georgia, Stanton was named 2023 Georgia High School Association (GHSA) Class 5A Player of the Year after being tabbed 2022 GHSA Co-Player of the Year. Starring at McIntosh High School, Stanton led the Chiefs to back-to-back state titles as a freshman and sophomore and a Region 3-5A championship as a senior. In the 2021 state championship match, Stanton assisted on both of McIntosh's goals including the game-winning score in the 89th minute. A first-team all-state selection by both the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association (GACA) and GeorgiaHighSchoolSoccer.com, Stanton earned All-Region 3-5A First Team and Georgia Soccer All-Star Team honors. He was also chosen as Fayette County News 2023 County Player of the Year after registering 10 goals and 17 assists in his final prep season. In club soccer, Stanton competed for Gwinnett Soccer Academy out of the ECNL.
 
Drew Vinson | Freshman | Goalkeeper | Homewood, Ala. | Homewood HS
Another state champion, Vinson protected the net for Homewood High School in Alabama where he helped lead the Patriots to the Class 6A title as a sophomore in 2021. Selected to the 2022 Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) North-South All-Star Game, Vinson earned AHSAA Class 6A All-State First Team accolades following his senior year after collecting all-state second-team honors as a junior. He was also named All-Metro First Team and received Homewood's Patriot Award. Vinson played alongside MVC All-Freshman and All-Tournament Team defender Dylan Steely with Alabama FC and was an ECNL National Training Camp selection.
 
In its first season back in the MVC following a one-year stint in the league in 2000, Belmont came within a single goal of a third consecutive conference championship title match. The Bruins went 7-4-7 overall last fall and 2-2-4 in league play, tying for fourth place in the MVC. Making a fourth-straight appearance in a conference tournament semifinal match, Belmont tied the program record for consecutive shutouts with four straight heading into its semifinal bout.
 
In 2022, the Bruins put together a four-match win streak and had a five-match unbeaten streak going into their MVC Tournament semifinal match. Belmont earned scoreless draws with two top-20 opponents, including shutting out 18th-ranked MVC regular season and tournament champion Missouri State. For the third-straight season, the Bruins posted a top-90 NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET) ranking and for the second consecutive year Belmont went undefeated at home.
 
Heading into 2023 the Bruins own an impressive 18-match unbeaten streak at E.S. Rose Park, which dates back to March 30, 2021.
 
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