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USL Nashville SC

Nashville SC Strengths Keeper Corps with Signing of Connor Sparrow

December 13, 2018 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Nashville SC News Release


NASHVILLE - After beefing up its attack earlier in the day, Nashville SC addressed the back end of the pitch in the afternoon. The club announced the signing of keeper Connor Sparrow on Thursday to its 2019 USL Championship squad, pending league and federation approval. Sparrow spent last season primarily with Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer (MLS), serving as the team's second keeper.

"At 24 years old, Connor has already shown how capable he is," said Nashville SC head coach Gary Smith. "He was a regular in a very good Monarchs team and has all the qualities needed to develop into a top-flight goal keeper."

Sparrow was drafted by Real Salt Lake in the fourth round of the 2016 MLS SuperDraft before signing with its USL Championship affiliate Real Monarchs SLC later in the year. His breakout season came in 2017 when Sparrow made 20 appearances between the pipes for the Monarchs, going 11-6-3 and allowing just 18 goals while keeping seven shutouts. He led the Monarchs to the best record in the USL Championship and No. 1 seed in the USL Cup Playoffs.

"Connor performed at a high level in the USL in his rookie season and comes out of the Real Salt Lake goalkeeping pipeline that has produced some of the top goalkeepers in Major League Soccer," said Nashville SC VP of soccer operations and technical director Mike Jacobs. "He is someone that we've tracked for some time and know that he has the potential to be a key contributor for us here in Nashville."

After spending two seasons in the USL Championship, Real Salt Lake of MLS signed the keeper at the end of the 2017 season. Sparrow made one appearance in net for RSL last season in the 4th round of the U.S. Open Cup, and made the 18 as the backup keeper in 12 league matches in 2018.

He also made nine appearances for Real Monarchs in the USL Championship in 2018 to stay fresh, allowing seven goals and keeping four shutouts. The Monarchs finished 2018 as the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference.

Sparrow joins Matt Pickens as keepers on the 2019 Nashville SC USL Championship roster.

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