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Pickens Unveiled as Nashville’s First Signing

By USLSoccer.com Staff, 11/30/17, 4:16PM EST

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Former MLS Cup-winner joined by USL veterans Ballo, LaGrassa in Music City

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Former MLS Cup-winner Matt Pickens was announced as the first professional signing for Nashville SC on Thursday, with the veteran goalkeeper reuniting with NSC Head Coach Gary Smith in the Music City ahead of the club’s 2018 expansion season in the USL.

Pickens will be joined by a pair of USL veterans in defender Oumar Ballo and midfielder Matt LaGrassa in Nashville, and Northern Irish forward Robin Shroot. All signings are pending league and federation approval.

“The identification of players and creation of our team’s philosophy has been ongoing since last spring,” said Smith. “There have been countless hours of investigative work to find the right players to build a culture within our new club. It’s exciting to see our efforts bear fruit with high-caliber signings that Nashville can be proud of.”

Pickens claimed the 2010 MLS Cup as a member of the Colorado Rapids, and brings extensive experience with him to Nashville. Pickens made 30 appearances for the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the 2017 USL season, recording 10 shutouts, as he surpassed 100 appearances for the club. A former call-up to the U.S. Men’s National Team, Pickens made more than 150 appearances in Major League Soccer prior to joining the Rowdies.

Ballo has spent the past two seasons in the USL with the Swope Park Rangers, whom he helped claim back-to-back USL Western Conference Championships in the club’s first two years. A native of Mali, Ballo made 45 appearances for the Rangers as Swope Park posted strong defensive records in both seasons.

LaGrassa had a standout season for Reno 1868 FC this past year, helping the 2017 USL expansion club to a third-place finish in the Western Conference as he finished third in the league with 1,783 completed passes across the season. Formerly a member of Sacramento Republic FC, LaGrassa also had a stellar college career at Cal Poly, where he helped lead the Mustangs to the 2015 NCAA Tournament.


Photo courtesy Darren Abate / San Antonio FC

Shroot most recently played for IL Hødd in the Norwegian Second Division in Norway. In three seasons for the Hødd, Shroot scored 29 goals in 61 appearances, with the 29-year-old striker having recorded 64 goals throughout 11 professional seasons.

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