USL Nashville SC

Nashville SC Prepared for High-Pressure Playoff Environment against Charleston Battery

Published on October 26, 2019 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Nashville SC News Release


NASHVILLE - Nashville Soccer Club is no stranger to high-stakes soccer.

In fact, the Boys in Gold have created a playoff environment while winning four straight matches down the stretch of the regular season to clinch the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. They'll look to keep that intensity up as they face the Charleston Battery on Saturday night in the Conference Quarterfinals. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at First Tennessee Park, presented by Nissan.

Midfielder Matt LaGrassa thinks his team will be up for the task in the postseason.

"I think luckily for us, we started to replicate the environment of the playoffs in the last couple of games of the season because we were competing for a title," LaGrassa said. "I think you saw us flip that mindset a couple of games ago, but yeah there's always a different feel. It's one game, and anything can happen, so you've got to be good always and take advantage of the opportunities that you have."

Nashville has been able to put together this winning streak under pressure while on a spaced-out home schedule. The club played just three matches in the month of October leading up to the playoffs. Meanwhile, Charleston will play its fifth match in 13 days when it takes the pitch on Saturday in Nashville.

While the team is grateful for the ability to rest up for a big match, it's also fully aware that Charleston will still come to play on Saturday.

"Look, would I like to be where we are? Of course," Head Coach Gary Smith said. "It gives us a little bit more time to prepare. Yes, they'll have more travel and I'm sure there will be some sort of fatigue set in, but when the guys or those guys finally get to the weekend, he'll put all of that out of their mind. He has the ability to rotate a few players. They've got a competitive group and I think whoever comes in and plays in whatever style he chooses to play, they'll go about their business. They always do. They're not an easy touch for anyone. What we have to try and inject into the game is the type of attitude and competition, cup competition mentality that we have over the last two or three games. If we can start of brightly and get ourselves into a nice rhythm and groove then we've proved that we're as tough as any team as well."

Saturday night's forecast calls for some potential rain at First Tennessee Park. Nashville SC is used to a little precipitation on matchday, and Smith thinks the players will actually look forward to playing on a fast and slick pitch.

"Players will be happy about that," Smith said. "We're at that time of year anyway where climates change quite dramatically and temperatures dropped. It makes the game quicker. It will make it more competitive for sure. It will probably lend itself to being even more so in a professional mindset and not getting too overzealous with challenges or the way that you try and impose yourself, but when all is said and done, there will be 11 players on the field. The ten outfield on each side will understand the nature of what we're in. There will be, I'm sure, some very strong challenges and there will also be some very good football. Both sides are very capable."

LaGrassa and the rest of the midfield has been instrumental in the club's run of form going into the postseason. He is quick to give plenty of credit to his teammates, and he's also willing to play any role and do what it takes to win a title this season.

"We've got a great group all around," LaGrassa said. "I think our midfield has really come together with a string of games all together. Bolu [Akinyode] has been great, Lebo [Moloto]'s been very good. You go down the lineup and everybody's really stepped up when we needed them to. I'm just trying to play whatever role is necessary for me in each game. Sometimes I look more like a No. 8 when I'm getting into the box more, sometimes I hold more. It really just depends on the game, but everybody's really stepped up down the line. We've got a great group and I think we can do something special."

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United Soccer League Championship Stories from October 26, 2019


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