
Matt Pickens on the Brink of a Historic Season for Nashville SC
October 16, 2019 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Nashville SC News Release
NASHVILLE - Matt Pickens is on the brink of one of the best goalkeeping seasons in USL Championship history. At 37 years old, Pickens is as good as ever, leading the league's best defense into a postseason where Nashville is one of the favorites.
Making history is nothing new for the keeper that already has a MLS Cup and a U.S. Open Cup title to his name. Pickens is the franchise leader in goalkeeper appearances, wins and clean sheets for three different clubs, the Colorado Rapids, the Tampa Bay Rowdies and of course, Nashville Soccer Club.
Now, Pickens stands on the cusp of more history as he cements a legacy 15 years in the making.
Allowing a meager 16 goals in 24 matches this season, Pickens is in the driver's seat to win his first career Golden Glove, an award given to the keeper with the lowest goals against average in the league. This season, he has allowed more than one goal just three times, and even then Nashville has earned results in two of those three games. He has 13 clean sheets, tied for the league lead, despite playing only two-thirds of the season.
With some cushion on the rest of the field, Pickens can allow up to two goals on Saturday against Atlanta United 2 and would still be guaranteed to take home the Golden Glove award. He's only allowed more than that twice this season and four times total in his NSC career.
Pickens hasn't just been the best goalkeeper in the USL Championship this season, he is in the midst one of the best single seasons for any keeper in the history of the league. As it stands, Pickens has a 0.67 goals against average. That mark would be the second-lowest GAA ever in league history behind Brandon Miller's (then of the Rochester Rhinos) 2015 season where he posted a 0.54 GAA.
Pickens' 13 clean sheets in 2019 is tied for the third-most in any single season in USL history, and one more clean sheet earned on Saturday would match his 2018 season total of 14, giving Pickens two of the three best single season shutout totals in league history.
It was November 30, 2017, nearly two years ago, when Matt Pickens was announced as Nashville SC's first-ever professional signing. With it, came expectations and aspirations as Pickens was plastered on billboards and social posts hailing the coming of professional soccer to the Music City.
With the possibility of a Golden Glove and the end of season league lead in shutouts, Pickens is now a front-runner to win the USL Championship's Goalkeeper of the Year honor and earn a coveted spot on the All-League First Team.
The record books are waiting.
United Soccer League Championship Stories from October 16, 2019
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- Jessica McDonald Named NWSL Player of the Week - North Carolina FC
- Danny Bedoya Named to USL Championship Team of the Week - Hartford Athletic
- Matt Pickens on the Brink of a Historic Season for Nashville SC - Nashville SC
- Playoff Update: October 16 - Tampa Bay Rowdies
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