Paul Claes Nielsen Named MVC Player of the Week

ST. LOUIS – For the second time in his career, Belmont University men's soccer's Paul Claes Nielsen has been selected as Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week. The sophomore midfielder provided the game winner in the Bruins' MVC opener at Drake this past Saturday evening.
 
With the score knotted at 1-1 and just under three minutes remaining, Claes Nielsen received a pass from fifth-year defender Nate Mefford and found the lower right net with his left foot. Claes Nielsen's 88th-minute score propelled Belmont to its first-ever win over the Bulldogs in Des Moines, Iowa.
 
A native of Copenhagen, Denmark, Claes Nielsen is tied with Mefford for the team lead in goals this season (4).
 
Claes Nielsen was also tabbed MVC Player of the Week on Sept. 23 last year following his two-assist performance in the 28th Battle of the Boulevard at nearby rival Lipscomb.
 
Announced by the Valley Tuesday morning, the Bruins pick up their second MVC Player of the Week award of the year. On Sept. 8, graduate midfielder John McDowell was also selected as MVC Player of the Week.
 
Belmont has won three of its last four matches and closes out non-conference play at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Tuesday night. Kickoff from PNC Field in Birmingham, Alabama, is set for 7 p.m. The road match will be broadcast on ESPN+.
 
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