Skip To Main Content
HOME OF the BELMONT BRUINS
Paul_ClaesNielsen_at_WrightState2026
Belmont Athletics
6
Winner Belmont BEL (1-1-0, 0-0-0)
1
Wright St. WSU (0-2-0, 0-0-0)
Winner
Belmont BEL
(1-1-0, 0-0-0)
6
Final
1
Wright St. WSU
(0-2-0, 0-0-0)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Belmont BEL 4 2 6
Wright St. WSU 1 0 1

Game Recap: Men's Soccer |

Bruins Post Six Goals in Dominant Road Victory at Wright State Sunday Evening

Men’s Soccer Defeats Wright State 6-1 for Most Goals Scored in a Match Since 2017

DAYTON, Ohio – Finding the back of the net an impressive six times, the Belmont University men's soccer team thumped Wright State 6-1 in its first road test of the 2026 season Sunday evening in Dayton, Ohio. Five different Bruins scored in the dominant triumph at Alumni Field at Rinzler Student Sports Complex, including sophomore midfielder Paul Claes Nielsen, who registered a first-half brace.
 
The six goals scored are the most in a match for Belmont (1-1-0) since a 6-1 home win over Niagara University on Aug. 27, 2017.

The host Raiders (0-2-0) led following the first 62 seconds of play when Wright State's Brian Burkett capitalized on a ball from Keiji Nakazawa and Gabe Gotting. However, following the opening minutes of the match, it was all Bruins. Belmont quickly created a plethora of chances and began to control all facets of the game, finding the equalizer off the foot of graduate midfielder John McDowell in the 22nd minute. From there, the goal opened for the Bruins with Belmont taking the lead only a minute and 34 seconds later.
 
Claes Nielsen, a Preseason All-Missouri Valley Conference Team selection, scored the first of his two goals off a pass from freshman defender Judah McCloud to put the Bruins in front. Just three minutes later in the 26th, Claes Nielsen hammered in a corner kick from McDowell to make it 3-1.
 
Freshman forward Aiden Pierpoint closed out the half in style, connecting on a right-footed strike in the 41st minute with assistance from senior defender AJ Elliott.
 
The four first-half goals were the most in a half for Belmont since the Bruins also scored four in the first half of a 4-0 win at Southern Indiana on Sept. 12, 2023.
 
It took Belmont less than 90 seconds into the second half to lace another one between the pipes. Fifth-year defender Nate Mefford, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, made it 5-1 on a scorcher from outside the box, settling a loose ball and sending it home.
 
The Bruins' final goal of the evening came off the foot of graduate midfielder Elijah John, who received a pass from junior midfielder Emmanuel Aranda at the top of the 18 in the 84th minute.
 
The Raiders had only two real opportunities in the second half.
 
Belmont outshot Wright State 16-10 and scored on six of its eight shots on target.
 
Six of the Raiders' 10 shots were on goal.
 
Freshman starting goalkeeper Brody Sucher, a native of South Lebanon, Ohio (Kings HS), came up with four saves.
  Of Note
  • The Bruins have notched six goals against a NCAA Division I opponent just two other times – 6-1 versus Niagara (Aug. 27, 2017) and 6-0 at Lipscomb (Sept. 18, 2001).
  • The brace is Claes Nielsen's first of his career.
  • Mefford and John are now tied with sophomore forward Jaxon Stokes for the most goals (4) among Belmont active career leaders.
  • Both McDowell and Pierpoint scored their first career goal.
  • John (17), Claes Nielsen (11) and Mefford (9) lead active Bruins in career points.
  • Elliott's assist on Pierpoint's goal is his third career helper, while Aranda's assist on John's goal is the second of his career.
  • Junior keeper Miles Kipley made his second career appearance and saw 24 minutes in front of goal, earning a save.
Up Next
Belmont remains on the road and heads to Central Arkansas next weekend, taking on the Bears Friday night. Kickoff from the Bill Stephens Soccer Complex in Conway, Arkansas, is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the 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.
 
#ItsBruinTime
 
Print Friendly Version
Skip To Footer