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5 Reasons Why Nashville SC's USL Championship Run Has Been Historic

October 22, 2019 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Nashville SC News Release


NASHVILLE - Last Saturday night with another home shutout victory, Nashville SC concluded its second and final regular season in the USL Championship. Two seasons, two playoff appearances and records ranging from most season tickets sold in an inaugural USL Championship season to a Golden Glove recipient have given soccer fans in the Music City plenty to be proud of during the run in the USL Championship.

With 68 regular season matches over 2018 and 2019 now in the books, just how does Nashville SC stack up to other franchises through its two seasons in the league? Here are five facts that tell the story

1) Fewest goals allowed in USL Championship last two seasons

Nashville SC has had the best defense in the USL Championship over the last two seasons. With just 59 regular season and playoff goals allowed in 2018 & 2019, Nashville is one better than Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC for the fewest allowed. Each team has played 69 total matches (68 regular season, 1 playoff) over the last two years. Nashville edges Pittsburgh as it allowed one goal in its playoff.

2) Only team to not allow 4+ goals in a match

Of the 29 USL Championship teams that have competed in both 2018 and 2019, Nashville is the only team to not allow at least four goals in match in that time span, allowing Nashville to be competitive in every match they have played in. Over the course of two seasons, Nashville SC has allowed three goals in a single match just four times, earning results in three of the four. Nashville SC has never lost a match by more than two goals, the only USL Championship team in either 2018 or 2019 to accomplish that.

3) Most points earned in first two USL Championship seasons in the East

With 49 points earned in 2018 and 67 points earned this season, Nashville SC's 116 total standings points is the most amassed over an Eastern Conference USL Championship franchise's first two seasons. Nashville has earned more points in its first two seasons in the East, more than Indy Eleven (112), New York Red Bulls II (111), FC Cincinnati (102), and Tampa Bay Rowdies (94), amongst others.

4) Most results in first two USL Championship seasons in the East

The Eastern Conference is a grind, as seven teams finished with at least 16 wins this season in the East. Part of a 34-match season is avoiding losses, and Nashville SC in its first two seasons has been better than anyone else. With 25 wins or draws last season and 27 this season, Nashville's 52 are more than any other team in the East and match Reno 1868 FC in the West (2017-18) for the most in modern USL Championship history.

5) Goalkeeper with most shutouts over last two seasons

Matt Pickens has been one of Nashville SC's two-year USL Championship Most Valuable Players. In his two seasons with Nashville SC, Matt Pickens has kept 28 clean sheets in his 57 starts, leading the USL Championship in clean sheets over that stretch. His two seasons of 14 clean sheets are tied for the second-best seasons in USL Championship history. This week he put a cherry on top of his historic career by winning the Golden Glove award. More silverware could be coming his way as he will undoubtedly be a finalist for the league's Goalkeeper of the Year award.

Nashville SC still has time to add to its record book. No USL Championship club has ever won the title before heading to Major League Soccer. Nashville will start its playoff chase to become the first on Saturday night at First Tennessee Park. Come and cheer on the Boys in Gold with tickets starting at just $11.

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