USL Nashville SC

Training Report: Jimmy Ockford Continues to Jell with New Nashville SC Teammates

July 30, 2019 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Nashville SC News Release


NASHVILLE - Adjusting to new settings can be difficult for anyone, whether you're a freshman going to college or a professional soccer player joining a new club.

Defender Jimmy Ockford has been doing that on the fly over the last few weeks after being acquired by Nashville Soccer Club on short-term loan from MLS' San Jose Earthquakes. After two matches, it appears he's been settling in nicely.

Ockford has started both matches over the last two weeks, helping Nashville earn two victories and two clean sheets in the process.

"It's tough getting new defenders, especially last game with another centerback, two centerbacks that haven't played with each other," Ockford said. "We molded pretty quickly together I think and it's great to see."

As he pointed out, the challenge of acclimating to a new group was compounded by the addition of Forrest Lasso on loan from MLS' FC Cincinnati ahead of last Saturday's match against Indy Eleven. Ockford now had to continue to adjust to a new group while also adjusting to another new centerback partner that was about to play his first match with the squad.

Ockford was extremely happy with how he settled in next to Lasso at the back on Saturday night.

"It's definitely a challenge, but we both have been around the league for awhile now, so we got some experience under our belt, got a lot of games," Ockford said. "With that, it's kind of a seamless transition. I've played with centerbacks just like him and I'm sure vice versa. It's not too bad."

The pair had no issues making the plays needed to earn the victory at Nissan Stadium. Ockford and Lasso combined for a total of nine clearances on the night. For reference, the entire Indy Eleven team had just two.

With Ockford and Lasso helping guide the team to two consecutive wins, the vibes around the team have become much more upbeat. Just a couple of weeks ago, the team was in the midst of a two-match losing streak during which numerous key players were injured. Now, with players like Matt LaGrassa and Cameron Lancaster on the mend and two wins under the team's belt, the sun is shining again in the Nashville SC locker room.

"I think in every season, there's going to be highs and lows," LaGrassa said. "You just try and stay focused and stay as middle as you can during those times, hopefully not get too low when you go through a little run of bad form and turn it around as quickly as you can. I think the boys have responded great. The last two results have been obviously fantastic, and hopefully it's just momentum that we can build on."

LaGrassa and the rest of the team will have plenty of chances to keep the momentum going, as the club plays seven matches in August, including four at home. After playing just three matches in the month of July, Nashville SC will be looking forward to seeing the pitch every weekend in August.

"I think especially when you've kind of flipped the form and people are playing well, I think it's good to have a run of a lot of games in a row," LaGrassa said. "We went through kind of a similar thing in May and I thought we went through a good little run of form then and hopefully we'll just stay on track just like we did in May."

Nashville SC begins its seven-match run in August with a showdown with Swope Park Rangers on Saturday night. The Boys in Gold return home on Wednesday, August 7 to face Hartford Athletic presented by Puckett's.



United Soccer League Championship Stories from July 30, 2019


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