MLS Nashville SC

Nashville SC Update

Published on June 13, 2023 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Nashville SC News Release


NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Nashville Soccer Club (9W-3L-5D, 32 pts.) returns to GEODIS Park this Saturday in the inaugural match against 2023 expansion side St. Louis CITY SC at 7:30 p.m. CT. Tickets are available at www.NashvilleSC.com/Tickets.

Nashville SC, unbeaten in nine matches (6W-0L-3D record) and in second place in the Supporters Shield race behind FC Cincinnati (40 points) will look to break its historic record of nine unbeaten matches with a result against St. Louis. The Boys in Gold are coming off a gritty 1-1 road result against Toronto this past weekend.

This weekend will mark the fourth time Nashville SC will face an MLS expansion side after previously playing Inter Miami CF (2020), Austin FC (2021) and Charlotte FC (2022). The Boys in Gold own a 2W-1L-0D record in inaugural matches against expansion sides.

Earlier this year, Nashville SC goalkeeper and St. Louis native Joe Willis was given the Keough Family Male Professional Player of the Year Award as part of the St. Louis Soccer Hall of Fame , an award that is given annually to the outstanding male St. Louis Soccer Players of the Year from the professional or collegiate ranks.

Willis has the best goals against average in MLS in 2023 at 0.71 and is tied with FC Cincinnati's Roman Celentano for fifth in saves with 53. Willis leads the league with a save percentage of 81.5% (minimum seven matches played). The keeper has allowed one goal or less in 16 of his 17 starts this season, and is one win shy of recording double-digit wins in three straight seasons.

Reigning Landon Donovan MLS MVP Hany Mukhtar, who served as team captain for the seventh time this past weekend, is the league leader in goal contributions with 17 (10 goals + 7 assists). Mukhtar has led Nashville SC to a 5W-0L-2D record with a +10 goal differential as captain in his career. The German attacker is the only player in MLS to have an active streak of 10 plus goals and five plus assists in three consecutive seasons.

Nashville SC Head Coach Gary Smith and goalkeeper Joe Willis will address the media on Thursday, June 15 at approximately 12 p.m. CT to preview Saturday's fixture against St. Louis CITY SC. Media members interested in attending the session must RSVP to Communications@NashvilleSC.com by 5 p.m. CT on Wednesday.

NSC Backstage, the official weekly radio show of Nashville SC will air on 104.5 The Zone this Wednesday at 8 p.m. CT. Featuring the voices of Will Boling, Lucas Panzica and Jalil Anibaba, fans will be able to listen to interviews.

Nashville SC's MLS NEXT Pro affiliate Huntsville City FC (2W-6L-3D-3SOW, 12 pts.) will play two matches this week, making a mid-week trip north of the border to take on Toronto FC II on Thursday, June 15 at 6 p.m. CT, and hosting Inter Miami CF II on Sunday, June 18 at 6 p.m. CT at the Wicks Family Field at Joe Davis Stadium. Fans can purchase their tickets here or follow the action live on MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app.

BROADCAST INFORMATION:

Nashville SC vs. St. Louis CITY SC (June 17, 2023)

MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app

104.5 The Zone

Huntsville City FC at Toronto FC II (June 15, 2023)

MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app

Huntsville City FC vs. Inter Miami CF (June 18, 2023)

MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app

MEDIA NOTES:

Nashville SC:

is unbeaten in its last nine league matches; will surpass its historic record of nine with a result against St. Louis

is in second place in the Supporters Shield race and the Eastern Conference

has not allowed more than one goal in a match during its unbeaten run

owns the best goal-differential in the Eastern Conference (+13); second in the league behind St. Louis CITY SC (+16)

has earned three consecutive results when conceding the first goal of a match

has the highest save percentage in MLS (81.5%)

has not lost when scoring first since Aug. 8, 2021; owns a 7W-0L-2D record this season and a 37W-4L-16D all-time

is 26W-1L-10D all-time when leading at the half and is unbeaten in its last 35 matches when leading at the half (25W-0L-10D)

is 33W-1L-8D when scoring two or more goals all-time and 9W-0L-0D this season

is 15W-1L-0D all-time when scoring three or more goals in an MLS match and 3W-0L-0D this season

Teal Bunbury

- ranks seventh among active players in regular season appearances (354)

Ján Greguš is currently sitting on 99 MLS regular season appearances

Aníbal Godoy

was called in by Panama for the Nations League Semifinal against Canada on June 6

leads the team in passing accuracy at 90.7% (minimum 5 matches played)

has led Nashville SC to a 18W-7L-8D record in his appearances since 2022

Jack Maher

leads the team in accurate passes (794); has more than 150 passes than the second highest on the team (Dan Lovitz 621)

leads outfield players in duel percentage (67.2%)

Dax McCarty

is second all-time in MLS history for matches started by an outfield player (406)

is third all-time in minutes played (35,690)

has made 453 MLS regular season appearances

Hany Mukhtar

is the league leader in goal contributions (10 goals, 7 assists)

is tied with LAFC's Dénis Bouanga, ATL's Giorgos Giakoumakis and DAL's Jesús Ferreira for the league lead in goals scored (10)

has recorded 33 goals and 18 assists since 2022, the most of any MLS players

has contributed to 87 of Nashville SC's 156 goals in MLS history (53 goals + 34 assists)

Fafà Picault has scored five goals and one assist this season across all competitions; the club is 6W-0L-0D in those matches

Jacob Shaffelburg is one goal away from setting a career-high, currently at three, in four fewer matches played

Check out the Nashville SC Statistics

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Major League Soccer Stories from June 13, 2023


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