{"id":265016,"date":"2025-11-06T06:46:10","date_gmt":"2025-11-06T06:46:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/265016\/"},"modified":"2025-11-06T06:46:10","modified_gmt":"2025-11-06T06:46:10","slug":"mens-soccer-clinches-no-4-seed-for-mvc-championship-with-2-1-victory-over-evansville","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/265016\/","title":{"rendered":"Men\u2019s Soccer Clinches No. 4 Seed for MVC Championship with 2-1 Victory Over Evansville"},"content":{"rendered":"\n


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\n\t\t\tStory Links
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\n 2025 MVC Men’s Soccer Championship Bracket<\/a>
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\n MVC Championship Central<\/a>
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\"#5<\/p>\n

Next Game:<\/p>\n

#5 UIC<\/p>\n

11\/9\/2025 | 2 PM<\/p>\n


\n Nov. 09 (Sun) \/ 2 PM \n <\/p>\n

\"#5<\/p>\n


\n \u00a0#5 UIC \n <\/p>\n

History <\/a><\/p>\n

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. \u2013 A brace from sophomore midfielder Louis Pe\u00f1a propelled the Belmont University men’s soccer team to an important 2-1 victory over Missouri Valley Conference regular season champion Evansville Wednesday night at E.S. Rose Park. With Pe\u00f1a’s two-goal performance and the triumph, the Bruins (8-2-6, 3-2-2 MVC) clinch the No. 4 seed and first-round hosting responsibilities for the upcoming MVC Championship.
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\nBelmont will host fifth-seeded the University of Illinois Chicago Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. in the opening round of the 2025 MVC Men’s Soccer Championship. Admission is free and the match will be broadcast on ESPN+<\/a>.
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\nPe\u00f1a provided the game winner at the 69th minute after equalizing in the 39th minute.
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\nThe Bruins overcame a 1-0 deficit and remained disciplined on the Purple Aces’ attack throughout the second half. Graduate goalkeeper Grant Calvert<\/a> continued his fantastic play as of late, coming up with four key saves and securing Belmont’s last line of defense.
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\nThe Bruins placed five of 11 total shots on target and Belmont controlled the regular season finale from the end of the first half until its completion.
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\nEvansville (6-4-8, 3-1-3) entered the match unbeaten in MVC play and already holding at least a share of the Valley’s regular season crown after a win over Northern Illinois last Friday night.
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\nThe Purple Aces’ Andres Escudero put the visitors up in the 28th minute on a long-distance strike from outside the 18-yard box that grazed the bottom of the top post before finding the back of the net. Following Evansville’s goal, the Bruins were unwavering in building their opportunities.
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\nFollowing a near equalizer from senior captain midfielder Brad Dildy<\/a> in the 37th minute, it was Pe\u00f1a who finished off a corner kick. Sophomore midfielder Emmanuel Aranda<\/a> found freshman midfielder Nzuhri Biggar<\/a> in the box, who headed the ball down to redshirt senior captain defender Dylan Steely<\/a>. As Steely attempted to gather the ball while falling backwards, Pe\u00f1a cleaned things up.
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Louis Pe\u00f1a with his second goal of the season!@TheDylanSteely<\/a> + Nzuhri Biggar<\/a> with the assist!#ItsBruinTime<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/jeUgwCROMS<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/Ekgv530jxE<\/a><\/p>\n


\n\u2014 Belmont Men’s Soccer (@BelmontMSoccer) November 6, 2025<\/a>
\nBelmont’s game-winning goal was set up by Dildy 24 minutes into the second half when he fed the ball to freshman midfielder Paul Claes Nielsen<\/a> on the right side of the box. Claes Nielsen worked his defender as he drove into the penalty area before providing Pe\u00f1a with a crisp pass. Without hesitation, Pe\u00f1a swung in his second goal of the night.<\/p>\n

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Louis Pe\u00f1a with a brace to put the Bruins ?? 2-1!!!<\/p>\n

Paul Claes Nielsen<\/a> and @DildyBrad<\/a> with the assist!#ItsBruinTime<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/RKeGaWv7DE<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/FBkSHbpO5D<\/a><\/p>\n


\n\u2014 Belmont Men’s Soccer (@BelmontMSoccer) November 6, 2025<\/a>
\nIn the 78th minute, it appeared the Purple Aces were destined to tie things up at two goals apiece. However, Escudero’s open header inside the six-yard box connected squarely with the right post.
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\nCalvert made the final save in the 83rd minute on attempt from way outside by Evansville’s Martin Wurschmidt.
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\nFive of the Purple Aces’ seven shots were on target.
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\nBoth teams finished with four corner kicks.
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Graduate GK @Grantca1vert<\/a> and redshirt senior defender @TheDylanSteely<\/a> talk about the Bruins’ big win in the regular season finale and clinching a first-round home match for the @MVCsports<\/a> Championship ??#ItsBruinTime<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/rwoy2RRoRD<\/a><\/p>\n


\n\u2014 Belmont Men’s Soccer (@BelmontMSoccer) November 6, 2025<\/a>
\nOf Note<\/p>\n


\n\tThe Bruins will host a conference tournament match for the first time since the opening round of the 2019 Southern Conference Championship.
\n\tBelmont improves to 4-11-4 all-time versus Evansville.
\n\tThe Bruins have earned a result in six of their last seven meetings with the Purple Aces.
\n\tBelmont has posted a result in 38 of its last 46 matches at Rose Park, outscoring its opponents 67-34 during that stretch.
\n\tSince the start of the 2018 season, the Bruins are 32-14-13 at home.
\n\tIt marks the second consecutive match Belmont has had a player record a brace. Redshirt junior forward Brock Kiper<\/a> scored twice in the Bruins’ 5-0 road rout at Bradley last Friday en route to earning MVC Offensive Player of the Week honors.
\n\tClaes Nielsen earned his team-leading fifth assist of the season on Pe\u00f1a’s game winner.
\n\tPe\u00f1a knocked in his second and third goals of the season, his first scores since his penalty kick goal in Belmont’s 2-1 season-opening home win over Wright State.
\n\tBoth Steely and Biggar’s assists were their second of the season.
\n\tDildy’s assist on Pe\u00f1a’s game winner was his third helper of the year. <\/p>\n

Up Next
\nThe Bruins face the Flames in the Music City Sunday with the winner taking on top-seeded Evansville in the MVC Championship semifinals next Wednesday, Nov. 12 in Evansville, Indiana.
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\nHow to Follow
\nFollow Belmont men’s soccer on social media \u2013 @BelmontMSoccer<\/a>\u00a0on X, formerly Twitter, @belmontmsoccer<\/a>\u00a0on Instagram and Belmont University Men’s Soccer on Facebook<\/a> \u2013 for complete coverage of the Bruins. Stay up to date with all of Belmont’s athletic programs via the\u00a0official app of the Belmont Bruins<\/a>, available both in the Apple App Store and on Google Play.
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#ItsBruinTime

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