Nate Mefford Tabbed MVC Defensive Player of the Week

ST. LOUIS – For the second consecutive week, the Belmont University men's soccer team has a Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week. Fifth-year defender Nate Mefford has been named MVC Defensive Player of the Week following his assist on Jaxon Stokes' 88th-minute game-winning goal Sunday evening against Bradley.
 
Announced by the conference office Tuesday afternoon, Mefford earns his first MVC Player of the Week award of his career.
 
The Cincinnati, Ohio, native used a chest pass to sophomore forward Stokes for the late game winner Sunday as the Bruins defeated the Braves 2-1 at E.S. Rose Park. With the victory, Belmont improved to 2-0-0 in MVC play for the first time since 2022, which was the Bruins' first season back in the Valley.
 
Mefford's assist on Stokes' game winner was his third of the season, moving into a tie with graduate midfielders John McDowell and Elijah John for the team lead in helpers. It was also Mefford's 18th career point, the second most of any Belmont player.
 
Last Tuesday night, Mefford played 54 minutes in the Bruins' scoreless draw at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. The shutout was Belmont's third of the season.
 
Sophomore midfielder Paul Claes Nielsen was selected as MVC Player of the Week last Tuesday following his 88th-minute game-winning goal at Drake on Oct. 3. Mefford is the third Bruin to earn a MVC Player of the Week plaudit this season as McDowell was tabbed MVC Player of the Week on Sept. 8.
 
Belmont has won three of its last four matches and has earned a result in five of its last six outings.
 
The Bruins, who have won four straight at home, host the University of Illinois Chicago in a rematch of last year's MVC Championship first round contest in Nashville Saturday evening. Kickoff from Rose Park is set for 6 p.m. and Belmont soccer scarves will be given away to fans in attendance, while supplies last. All Bruin soccer matches at Rose Park are free to attend.
 
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