Nashville SC signs three new players
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Looking at the Nashville SC roster and the public comments of the club, it’s pretty clear that the Boys In Gold are gunning for glory during their first season in the United Soccer League. What hasn’t been especially obvious is where the goals would come from. Perhaps that changes now with the addition of 20-year-old striker Ropapa Mensah, on loan (with an option to buy) from Inter Allies of the Ghana Premier League. In just 19 appearances during the 2017 season for Penn FC (then called Harrisburg City Islanders), Mensah took aim for the target early and often, leading the City Islanders in goals, shots taken, and shots on goal.
Mensah’s addition to the team was accompanied by two other signings announced on Tuesday. The first is defender Jordan Woodberry, who joins Nashville on a free transfer from the New England Revolution. The 26-year-old made 46 appearances in MLS between 2015 and 2017, adding still more top-flight experience to Nashville’s first professional team. The second is 24-year-old Canadian defender Jordan Dunstan, who played his college ball at Bryan College in Dayton, Tennessee and played last year in the NPSL just a 40-minute drive down US 27 with Chattanooga FC.
Last week, the USL announced 2018 home openers for every team, and Nashville will be starting its inaugural season on the road agains the defending USL Cup champs. Eep!
After the March 17 lid-lifter at Louisville City, Nashville plays its first competitive match at First Tennessee Park on March 24 against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.
Along with the home openers, USL also announced its conference alignment for the 2018 season. Nashville will be one of 16 teams competing in the Eastern Conference, along with three other newcomers in ATL UTD 2, Indy Eleven, and North Carolina FC.
Which teams will develop into rivals of Nashville SC? Let’s examine the likeliest candidates.
This has been Link-Up Play. If there’s a big story we missed, let me hear it at connor@musiccity.soccer.
