NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Despite putting together strong chances throughout, the Belmont University men's soccer team was defeated 1-0 by visiting University of Illinois Chicago Saturday evening at E.S. Rose Park in the opening round of the 2026 Missouri Valley Conference Championship. The fourth-seeded Bruins (6-7-4, 2-2-2 MVC) were unable to find the back of the net after controlling the majority of the first half as the Flames (5-7-4, 1-3-2 MVC) scored in the 58th minute on a re-directed ball inside the six-yard box.
 
The postseason loss snaps Belmont's seven-match home unbeaten streak.
 
Both sides took advantageous tactical positions in the second half after a scoreless first 45 minutes of action, but it was UIC who profited off an opportunity. The Flames' reserve midfielder Martin Montoya fed a ball into the box with freshman goalkeeper Brody Sucher making a play on the ball, however, the ball was re-directed and landed at the feet of UIC starting midfielder Carlos Nevarez. Without hesitation, Nevarez found reserve forward AJ Sabanovic in front of an open goal.
 
Sabanovic's strike with just under 32-and-a-half minutes left gave the Flames the lead, which they would not relinquish.
 
Graduate midfielder John McDowell thought he had an open goal and a sure go-ahead score in the 17th minute but somehow, UIC goalkeeper Owen Cornell was able to get back in front of net and make a diving block on McDowell's shot. Fellow graduate captain midfielder Ethan Schlegel then soared the rebound high over the crossbar.
 
After the Flames' goal, the Bruins struggled to maintain possession in the attacking third.
 
UIC threatened numerous times between the 66th and 88th minutes, tallying 10 of its 18 total shots.
 
With two-and-a-half minutes left, graduate midfielder Elijah John played a perfect service into freshman forward Aiden Pierpoint, who was able to get a head on the pass. However, his header landed in the outstretched arms of the Flames' Cornell.
 
In the final minute, Belmont had one last chance following a whistled foul on UIC in the Bruins' attacking third. John took the free kick from well above the penalty area with the clock stopped at 11 seconds, but the Bruins were unable to get a shot off on the set piece.
 
Belmont earned only one corner kick for the evening, which came in the 55th minute.
 
Meanwhile, the Flames recorded nine corners. UIC outshot the Bruins 11-3 in the second half and placed nine of its 18 total shots on target.
 
Four of Belmont's nine registered shots were on goal.
 
Sucher came up with a career-high eight saves, while the Flames' Cornell made four saves.
 
Of Note

• It marked the second consecutive year the Bruins hosted UIC in the first round of the MVC Championship as the No. 4 seed and the Flames as the No. 5 seed.
• It was also the fourth time in five years Belmont faced UIC in the opening round of the MVC Championship.
• Sophomore midfielder Paul Claes Nielsen, who was named MVC Midfielder of the Year earlier in the day, notched his 50th shot of the season in the 11th minute. He becomes the first Bruin to record 50 shots in a season since Niccolo Dagnoni did so in 2019.
• Sucher completes his freshman season by securing at least five saves in 10 of his last 13 outings.
• Belmont has finished .500 or better at Rose Park for nine-straight seasons.

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.