Nashville Metros Press Release - www.NashvilleMetrosSoccer.com

Friday, May 16

NASHVILLE – The Nashville Metros will open their home season with two big matches against Florida teams next week after splitting a two-game road trip in North Carolina to open the season last weekend.

The home opener for the Metros, currently tied for second place in the eight-team PDL Southeast division, will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 21 against the Bradenton Academics. The Metros will also suit up at 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 24 to take on the expansion Panama City Pirates.

Nashville began the season on Saturday night with a disappointing 2-0 loss to the always-talented Carolina Dynamo. Outshot 10-1 for the match, the Metros nevertheless took a 0-0 tie into the locker room at halftime.

Ironically, it was Miguel DaSilva, a David Lipscomb player who had a brief stint with Nashville last season, who came off the bench at halftime for Carolina to score their first goal in the 59th minute. Richard Jata added an insurance tally just eight minutes later to give the Dynamo their final advantage.

But the Metros showed some grit and character in Sunday’s match. After short rest and a late night bus ride to Raleigh, Nashville surprised the Cary Railhawks with a 2-0 shutout to earn their first road victory since the 2006 season.

Metros rookie striker Michael Martin ignited his team in the 39th minute when he was taken down in the Cary box to earn Nashville a penalty kick, which was buried by third-year Metros midfielder Fynn Glover to get the scoring underway. Martin also figured in the second Nashville goal in the 58th minute on a long feed from another rookie, Santiago Snellgrose. Martin struck a diving header past Railhawks goalkeeper Brooks Haggerty to give Nashville its final victory margin.

TEAM NOTES

Ayres Riding on Air
Although 2007 Metros defender Jay Ayres will be sidelined by a facial injury for several weeks, he’s still on the roster of MLS’ San Joe Earthquakes. Earthquakes Coach Frank Yallop obviously likes what he’s seen from the feisty, physical defender so far. The Tennessean’s John Glennon had an excellent story in Thursday’s paper tracing Ayres improbable odyssey from the Metros to MLS in a single season.

Turn in Those Pink Pennies
Michael Martin and Santiago Snellgrose are the first Metros rookies this season to be able to turn in the detestable pink training bibs issued for the first time this year to Metros rookies. Seven rookies good enough to make the 20-man travel squad last weekend found out about the new pink pennie “tradition” in a memo prior to the trip from Head Coach Rico Laise.

“Rookies shall take them off and wave them madly over their heads whenever a Senior Member with rank (more than 2 years) of service to the beloved Metros yells "ROOKIE"!!! Rookies can be relieved of the pink bib by directly contributing to a Metros win or scoring a goal.”

Martin’s goal and Snellgrose’s assist in the 2-0 win over Cary should allow them to shed the cute pink training bibs and others will get their chance next week.

Hit the Metros Summer Camps for the Best Soccer Experience
The Metros will host seven weeks of soccer camps for amateur players, advanced players and even whole youth teams this summer. The camps are personally led by Metros Head Coach Rico Laise and staffed by Metros players. The fun begins with the first amateur camp on June 16, so get registered today. A camp brochure and registration form is available on the Metros web site at www.NashvilleMetrosSoccer.com.