Paul Claes Nielsen Captures MVC Player of the Week Honors

ST. LOUIS – After tallying four points last week across the Belmont University men's soccer team's two road shutouts, freshman midfielder Paul Claes Nielsen has been named Missouri Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Week. The Copenhagen, Denmark, native scored his first career goal at Southern Indiana and assisted on both of the Bruins' goals in Belmont's shut out of rival Lipscomb in the 28th Battle of the Boulevard.
 
Announced by the Valley Tuesday afternoon, Claes Nielsen is the first Bruin to earn player of the week recognition from the conference office this season.
 
Scoring or assisting on three of Belmont's five goals last week, Claes Nielsen found the back of the net in the 30th minute last Wednesday evening in the Bruins' 3-0 road rout of the Screaming Eagles in Evansville, Indiana. His first-half score put Belmont up 1-0. Two of Claes Nielsen's three shots at Southern Indiana were on target.
 
On Sunday night on the south end of Belmont Boulevard, Claes Nielsen was sensational in helping the Bruins even up the series against the rival Bisons. In 52 minutes on the pitch at the Lipscomb Soccer Complex, Claes Nielsen fed senior midfielder Brad Dildy (29') and freshman forward Jaxon Stokes (58') for Belmont's two goals.
 
With Claes Nielsen and his teammates' play, the Bruins are off to their best start in program history. Belmont (5-0-3) is unbeaten through its first eight matches of the season for the first time.
 
The Bruins have outscored their opponents 13-4 thus far this season.
 
Up Next
Belmont begins MVC play Friday afternoon in Kalamazoo, Michigan, where the Bruins will take on Western Michigan. Kickoff of the Valley opener from the WMU Soccer Complex is at 3:30 p.m. CT/4:30 p.m. ET. The conference road match will be broadcast on ESPN+.
 
How to Follow
Follow Belmont men's soccer on social media – @BelmontMSoccer on X, formerly Twitter, @belmontmsoccer on Instagram and Belmont University Men's Soccer on Facebook – for complete coverage of the Bruins. Stay up to date with all of Belmont's athletic programs via the official app of the Belmont Bruins, available both in the Apple App Store and on Google Play.