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Nashville SC Preparing to Shine on Big Stage at Nissan Stadium against Indy Eleven

July 26, 2019 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Nashville SC News Release


NASHVILLE - Matches like this don't come around very often.

On Saturday night, Nashville Soccer Club will walk onto the pitch at Nissan Stadium to take on Indy Eleven. It's a matchup of two teams looking to claw their way up the USL Championship Eastern Conference standings. The match takes place at Nashville SC's future temporary MLS home.

It's a big occasion, and the Boys in Gold are fired up to meet the challenge.

"The dimensions may seem the same, but it just feels like a bigger atmosphere, and I think everything gets heightened a little bit," said defender Taylor Washington. "You're a little bit more excited, more fans of course, and it's just an incredible environment that, you know, I think fans will be able to experience today for next year. They'll be able to start to understand what they're getting in to."

It's not only a chance for fans to see soccer at Nissan Stadium ahead of the club's move to MLS, but it's also a chance for the players to get a taste of what it would be like to suit up for the club in MLS next season. Head Coach Gary Smith continues to evaluate his current players as the roster begins to take shape for MLS next season, and this match is a great opportunity for players to show their abilities on the big stage.

"I think the guys also, and you'll have to ask them, but I would suspect they're looking at it and thinking 'You know what, this is where the team is going to be in the next two years, this is a great opportunity for me to be on the stage and really make a bit of an impression.' My hope is that we carry on our good form, and that the guys see it as a bit of a dress rehearsal."

Saturday night's match could also mark the Nashville SC debut for defender Forrest Lasso, who was acquired this week on loan from FC Cincinnati for the rest of the 2019 season. Last season, Lasso got to play at Nissan Stadium against Nashville SC as a member of FC Cincinnati, and he's excited to play there once again.

"It's pretty special," Lasso said. "When Gary [Smith] and Mike [Jacobs] were telling me the first game after I got here would be at Nissan Stadium, it brought me back to some good memories. I remember coming here last year and the place was packed. There was a lot of energy, it was electric. I'm definitely looking forward to it whether I'm involved or not. I'm just happy to be a part of the squad and contribute for the rest of the year."

The last time Nashville faced Indy Eleven, the match ended in a 0-0 draw at Lucas Oil Stadium back in May. In addition, the last two times Nashville SC played at Nissan Stadium, the matches ended in 0-0 draws. Given the offensive acumen of both sides, Smith doesn't expect this match to resemble the last one between these two squads.

"I think it will be a different game," Smith said. "Their arena, the size of their field, the surface, the nature of what that game presented is very different to what you're going to see here. I think they'll enjoy it as much as we will. They're a good footballing side. They've got some terrific players in their team. We're very respectful of what they represent, but we're also sure that we have all the right tools to get this job done and to beat them. They're not infallible, they've proved that. On our own patch with a good crowd behind us, it might just be the difference and that added incentive or percentage that we need to tip the scales our way. But yeah, the game will be very different, I suspect, than it was in that Lucas Oil Stadium."

Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. Members of the Nashville SC fan club can get tickets to the match for just $8. Click here to sign up.

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