Sports stats

USL Nashville SC

Nashville SC Kicks off Four-Match Homestand against North Carolina FC

June 15, 2018 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Nashville SC News Release


NASHVILLE - With a 10-match unbeaten streak under its belt, Nashville SC returns home to put the streak to the test against North Carolina FC. The match will start a four-match home stretch in USL play culminating in a marquee matchup against conference-best FC Cincinnati on July 7 at Nissan Stadium. For now, though, Nashville is focused on stretching its streak to 11 ahead of a U.S. Open Cup matchup on the road on Wednesday.

North Carolina Breakdown

North Carolina FC may be sitting five points out of a playoff spot at the moment, but don't underestimate the club simply based on its record. The team is coming off of a confidence-building 4-2 victory over Ottawa Fury FC this past Wednesday and will be looking for more points in Nashville. In addition, its last few games have been a gauntlet. North Carolina has had to face FC Cincinnati twice and squared off against Bethlehem Steel FC, which is currently sitting in a playoff spot.

In the club's two wins in its last five matches, North Carolina has scored four goals and only conceded two. Nashville will have to keep the ball out of the back of the net if it wants to keep the streak alive.

Nashville Narratives

Going into this match, Nashville is riding the longest active unbeaten streak in North American men's pro soccer. That feat is even more impressive when you consider the fact that the team had the lowest expected points in the Eastern Conference considering its strength of schedule and home/road split. When the club has been at home, Nashville has been electric. Across all competitions, it is 6-0-1 within the city limits of Nashville. In fact, the team has only conceded two goals on home soil all season long and has never trailed in a home match.

Nashville also has a connection to North Carolina. Forwards Tucker Hume and Alan Winn played for the Tar Heels at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and got to train with North Carolina FC while there. In addition, midfielder Bolu Akinyode spent last season with North Carolina FC, playing in 22 matches.

Quotable

Forward Tucker Hume - "Obviously going to school in North Carolina at Chapel Hill, I used to play NCFC in the spring, and I know a lot of players on the team and staff. They're a real organized team that I've trained with before, and they run good training sessions, so they'll definitely come here prepared. They had a good win in the midweek and we're just going to go out there and play and we're expecting the other team to give it their all."

Watching the East

Nashville is seven points out of first place in the East, but could vault as high as second place in the conference with a win on Saturday. That all depends on how the other teams in playoff spots perform over the weekend. Every team above Nashville in the standings is in action on Saturday, so the club is not guaranteed to move up the standings with a win.

Following Nashville

The game will be broadcast locally on MyTV30 beginning at 7:30 p.m. The game will also be broadcast on the radio at ESPN 94.9 Game 2 and 96.7 El Jefe. Out of town fans can catch the game digitally on ESPN+. If fans aren't able to watch or listen, they can follow @NashvilleSC on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for live match updates and highlights.



United Soccer League Championship Stories from June 15, 2018


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central