MLS Nashville SC

Nashville SC Update

Published on September 25, 2023 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Nashville SC News Release


NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Nashville Soccer Club (12W-9L-8D, 44 pts.) will return to GEODIS Park from its two-match Western Conference road trip this week as it takes on its final Western Conference opponent of the season in Seattle Sounders FC (12W-9L-9D, 45 pts.) at 7:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, Sept. 30.

Nashville SC picked up four valuable points on its road trip in a decisive 3-0 victory at Sporting KC and a 1-1 draw at San Jose Earthquakes. Nashville SC, currently riding a four-match unbeaten streak, has five matches left in the regular season as it pushes to clinch an Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoff berth.

Nashville SC has faced the Sounders twice in series history holding a 2W-0L-0D record. Joe Willis made five saves across the two meetings against the Sounders to earn two shutouts across series history. Nashville SC's Panamanian midfield maestro, Aníbal Godoy, recorded an 80th minute game winner at Lumen Field to open The Boys in Gold's 2022 season 1-0. Reigning Landon Donovan MLS MVP Hany Mukhtar recorded the game winner in the 44th minute last year at GEODIS Park to secure Nashville's second win over Seattle.

The Castle will play host to two games this week, with Nashville SC's inaugural Pup Cup presented by Mars Petcare and the PEDIGREE® Brand taking place on Wednesday, Sept. 27. Midfielder Jacob Shaffelburg has been announced as the Electric Gold side's head coach, with midfielder Sean Davis serving as assistant coach. Midfielder Alex Muyl and goalkeeper Elliott Panicco will serve as the Acoustic Blue side's head coach and assistant coach. Nashville SC mascot Tempo the Coyote will serve as the Pup Cup Official Referee, as the event takes place at the North Plaza at GEODIS Park from 6 to 8 p.m. CT to mark the beginning of Mars Petcare's 15th Annual Adoption Weekend. Tickets for this free admission event can be secured here.

Media interested in covering the Nashville SC Pup Cup can email communications@nashvillesc.com.

Nashville SC will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month throughout September and October. The Sept. 30 clash with Seattle will serve as the club's Hispanic Heritage Night, and will include a variety of performances by Hispanic artists and musicians including Hobo Can (Opening Act), Valerie Ponzio (National Anthem), Giovanni Rodriguez and 12 Manos (GEODIS WeHo Club), Julián García as the DJ for the night and Alexis Zúñiga (Guitar Riff). Zúñiga will riff on the official Delgado Guitar created by Manuel Delgado from remnants of GEODIS Park materials pulled during construction of the stadium. Fans can find more information at www.NashvilleSC.com/Community. Fans can find more information at www.NashvilleSC.com/.

BROADCAST INFORMATION: ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚

Nashville SC vs. Seattle Sounders (Sept. 30, 2023) ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚

- MLS Season Pass ‚ on the Apple TV app ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚

- 104.5 The Zone ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚

MEDIA NOTES: ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚

Nashville SC: ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚

- has allowed the fewest goals (28) in MLS play through 29 matches ‚ ‚

- owns the seventh-best goal differential in the league at +8 ‚ ‚

- sits seventh in the Eastern Conference with 44 points ‚ ‚

- owns an 8W-2L-3D record at GEODIS Park this season

- owns a 3W-0L-2D record against Western Conference opponents this season

- is one of seven teams to own 12 or more wins this season in the Eastern Conference

- is on a four-match unbeaten streak, dating back to Aug. 30, 2023

Teal Bunbury has appeared in 363 MLS regular season matches in his career, ranking sixth among active MLS players ‚

Aníbal Godoy ‚ leads the team in pass percentage at 91.3% (minimum 600 passes) ‚

Dan Lovitz

- is two assists away from tying season-high in assists

- is tied for fourth-most game winning assists in the league with three (also, T. Almada, M. Choiniere, L. Chu, C. Espinoza, B. Gutierrez, C. Hernandez, M. Klich, R. Laryea, N. Lodeiro, E. Loewen, H. Mukhtar, S. Rodriguez, E. Thommy, M. Uhre)

Lukas MacNaughton leads the team in interceptions (30) ‚ ‚

Jack Maher

- leads the team in total passes (1386) ‚ ‚

- leads the team in duel percentage at 64.4% (minimum 155 duels) ‚

Dax McCarty is one caution away from suspension due to yellow card accumulation

Shaq Moore leads the team in tackles (44) ‚

Hany Mukhtar ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚ ‚

- is tied for leading the league and Golden Boot race with 15 goals and is second in the league with 43 shots on target

- is tied for fourth-most game winning goals in the league with four (also, D. Bouanga, C. Hernandez, E. Loewen, A. Rusnak, G. Vrioni)

- is tied for fourth-most game winning assists in the league with three (also, T. Almada, M. Choiniere, L. Chu, C. Espinoza, B. Gutierrez, C. Hernandez, M. Klich, R. Laryea, N. Lodeiro, E. Loewen, D. Lovitz, S. Rodriguez, E. Thommy, M. Uhre)

- is third in the league with 25 goal contributions (behind L. Acosta, 27, and T. Almada, 26) and second with 40 points (behind L. Acosta, 42)

- 's 14 of 15 goals have come from inside the 18-yard box

- leads the team in goals per 90 minutes (G/90min) at 0.57 ‚ ‚

- leads the team with four penalty kicks and a conversion rate of 100% ‚ ‚

- leads the team with 103 shots

- is only the eighth player in MLS history to score 15 goals in three consecutive MLS regular seasons

- is the second-ever MLS player to record 10+ goals and 10+ assists in three consecutive seasons (also, Preki 1996-98)

Elliot Panicco

- registered his second MLS start of 2023 on Sept. 23, 2023, fourth start overall, and extended his record in goal to a 1W-0L-3D

- recorded his first MLS shutout on Aug. 30, 2023 at Inter Miami CF

- recorded four saves on Sept. 23, 2023, to bring his season total to eight, marking a new career high (7 saves in 2022)

Taylor Washington is one caution away from suspension due to yellow card accumulation

Joe Willis

- has the eighth-most saves in the league with 82 and is tied for second in shutouts with two

- has a 2W-0L-0D record in goal against Seattle Sounders as a Boy in Gold, and both wins have been shutout victories

Check out the Nashville SC Statistics

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Major League Soccer Stories from September 25, 2023


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