The Metros (2-0-10, 6 points) are hoping to play spoiler as they wrap up their season with four July matches with playoff contenders. The string begins on Saturday night with the Silverbacks, who have already beaten Nashville three times this season.

GAME: Atlanta Silverbacks U23's vs. Nashville Metros
DATE: Saturday, July 5
TIME: 7:00 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Ezell Park Stadium, Nashville

With just seven goals on the season, the Metros are suffering from an offensive power shortage that has left them reeling from eight straight losses. Their offense, tied for 65th in the 67-team Premier Development League, generated numerous scoring chances in two losses last weekend to the Cary RailHawks U23's but only Bryan Lowder could find the back of the net with a goal in the two weekend matches.

With a growing injury list, Head Coach Rico Laise is trying players in different positions in an effort to shake up his squad and wring more scoring out of his line-up. Lowder was a bright spot in that effort last weekend as he move from his customary forward position to an attacking midfielder role and generated scoring chances for himself while setting up several others. With a goal and an assist on the season, Lowder is now the team’s #2 scorer.

Nashville will need even more production out of its squad as it takes on Atlanta (6-1-5, 19 points), which sits in fifth place in the Southeast Division only two points behind the second-place Bradenton Academics for one of two divisional playoff spots.

The Silverbacks had a tough June, losing three straight over the past two weeks to other playoff contenders. They went 2-0-4 on the month with their only victories coming over Nashville and they need yet another victory over the Metros to stay in the race.

Atlanta’s attack is led by forward Ryan Roushandel (5 goals, 2 assists, 12 points), who has deviled the Metros for the past two years. Also dangerous are forward Jeff Scanella (3 goals, 5 assist, 11 points) and playmaking midfielder Pascal Millien (3 goals, 5 assists, 11 points).

TEAM NOTES
Devall Passes Milestone: A bright spot for the Metros last weekend was the relentless play of veteran Danny Devall, who has now topped 100 games in a Nashville uniform over his memorable 10-year career. The longevity and leadership of the 35-year-old Devall, who also spent time with the Colorado Rapids in MLS, is almost unheard of in a league where he regularly takes 20-something opponents to school. Two years removed from winning the team’s Offensive Player of the Year award, Devall logged well over 100 minutes in last weekend’s back-to-back matches.

Hemkens on the Shelf: The Metros’ injury list got a little longer over the weekend with the addition of first-year defender Ben Hemkens, who went down hard from either an elbow or a head to his face while snuffing out a Cary RailHawks U23’s attack in Friday night’s match. Coach Laise is still waiting for a final report on the injury to Hemkens, who left the field with profuse bleeding. The 21-year-old defender from Vanderbilt had a badly swollen cheekbone by Saturday but still showed up to support the team and do some light jogging during warm-ups.

Mexican Squads Visit Ezell in July: The Metros will have their work cut out for them later this month when they take on two quality Mexican second division squads in exhibition matches. On July 11, the Rayados of Monterrey will take on Nashville at 8 p.m. following a 6:30 p.m. warm-up match featuring the women of Chivas against Morelia. On July 26, Nashville will host the Monarcas Morelia in another 8 p.m. match. Tickets for both evenings are $8 for children under 12 and $15 for adults. The Metros hosted Nashville’s first-ever international match on April 28, 2001, when they defeated the Bermuda National Team 2-0 as it trained for the 2002 World Cup. The city has since hosted two Mexican exhibition matches, along with both the U.S. Men’s and Women’s teams.

Metros HOST CARY RAILHAWKS U23'S FOR WEEKEND DOUBLEHEADER
June 26, 2008 - The Nashville Metros will be playing with a chip on their shoulder and something to prove this weekend as they welcome the Cary RailHawks U23's to a Friday night match in Nashville and a Saturday evening tilt in Murfreesboro. After a needed week off to recover from bumps, bruises and wounded pride after a string of six straight losses, the Metros will be working to get their season turned around against one of the two teams they have already defeated this season.

Cary RailHawks U23's vs. Nashville Metros
Cary RailHawks U23's vs. Nashville Metros
Like the Metros (2-0-8, 6 points), the RailHawks U23's (4-2-5, 18 points) are also in the midst of a season they would just as soon forget. Although they stand in fifth place in the eight-team Southeast Division, Cary had hoped to challenge for a playoff spot this year under new Head Coach Dewan Bader. The RailHawks are in the top ten teams in the 67-team Premier Development League in scoring with 23 goals in 11 matches. Their Achilles heel has been a porous defense that has given up 24 goals, which ties them with the Metros for eighth-worst in the PDL.

But don’t expect Metros Head Coach Rico Laise to lose sleep over Cary’s problems. Riding a six-game losing streak and having been shut out six times in 10 matches, Laise has his own troubles to deal with. Chief among Laise’s woes is finding a way to ignite an offense that has found the back of the net just six times this season. Only the Springfield Demize, the New Jersey Rangers and the Southern California Seahorses have scored fewer goals in the PDL this year.

Laise knows this weekend provides a chance for the Metros to climb out of their doldrums against a team that is also struggling. Expect some exciting soccer as both teams pull out all the stops to get their season back on track.

TEAM NOTES
Cary Rivalry Growing in Intensity: The Metros and the RailHawks U23's (and their predecessor Raleigh Elite) have played some intense matches in this evenly matched series since it began in 2006. The Metros lead 3-3-2 in the series, including a 2-0 win at Cary earlier this year. Perhaps the strangest match came two years ago this week when the Metros played their first-ever match at Murfreesboro. Nashville scorched the RailHawks for three goals in the first 21 minutes of the match only to watch Cary’s Willy Guadarrama complete a hat trick in the game’s waning moments to give the Metros a bad-tasting 3-3 draw. After the two matches this weekend, the Metros will meet the RailHawks once more when they close their season at Cary on July 19.

Metros GET BACK-TO-BACK SILVERBACKS THIS WEEK
June 11, 2008 - It’s a big week for the Nashville Metros as they visit the Atlanta Silverbacks U23's for a Thursday afternoon match, then return to Nashville to kick off a five-game home stand with the same Silverbacks at Ezell Park Stadium in Nashville.

The Metros (2-0-6, 6 points) also get a chance to get a leg up on Atlanta in the annual competition for the Willie B. Cup, the award given to the winner of the season series between the teams. In a tradition dating back to 2000, the Silverbacks are already a leg up on Nashville in the four-game series by virtue of a 2-0 victory in Atlanta on May 27.

Nashville Metros vs. Atlanta Silverbacks
Atlanta Silverbacks vs. Nashville Metros
The Silverbacks U23's (4-1-2, 13 points) are just a victory out of second place in the division and had run off four straight wins until dropping a match 3-2 last Saturday to the Cary RailHawks U23's. Head Coach Steve Muccillo, in his inaugural season with the team, is using good offensive production and an adequate defense to keep his team in the playoff hunt at the halfway mark of the season.

The Metros are heading the opposite direction. Their May 27 loss to Atlanta began a series of four straight losses that have left them mired in seventh place in the eight-team division. Maybe another look at the guys in the gorilla shirts is what they need to change their luck as they begin five straight matches at home beginning Saturday night.

Head Coach Rico Laise has stepped up the pressure on the squad this week, adding training sessions to eliminate the midfield turnovers and defensive breakdowns that have left Nashville on the short side of the scoreboard for the past three weeks. Laise also has to find a way to put some balls in the back of the net. The Metros, with just five goals in eight matches, are among the league’s lowest-scoring teams.

TEAM NOTES
Willie B. in History: The Willie B. Cup series began in 2000, when Atlanta first joined Nashville in USL’s premier First Division professional league. The Silverbacks captured the Cup in their inaugural season and Nashville won it back in 2001, its last year in the First Division. Nashville’s underdog PDL squad squared off against Atlanta’s pro team in an exhibition match for the Cup in 2002, retaining it by virtue of an improbable come-from-behind 1-1 draw. The Cup series was then suspended until 2006, when Atlanta fielded a PDL squad for the first time. The Silverbacks have won both Cups since the series was renewed.

Glover Gets Grounded: Veteran Metros midfielder Fynn Glover will remain on the shelf for the foreseeable future as he struggles through a quadriceps injury that has left him on the sidelines since the season’s opening road trip. The three-year veteran is one of the team’s hardest workers and best ball-winners. His absence has forced Laise into trying several other options in the midfield as he tries to coax the quad back into playing shape.

Sanchez Partners Up: The Metros welcomed a new partner, Martin Sanchez of Birmingham, to the team’s ownership group this week. Sanchez, a former coach who has made his mark in the Birmingham business community, will be moving his family to Nashville in the coming weeks while expanding his pallet business to Middle Tennessee. He joins the current ownership group of Lynn Agee, Ken Premo, Devinder Sandhu and Ken Renner who have operated the state’s top soccer team since 1999.

Camps, 7v7 League Getting Underway: The Metros Summer Soccer Camps and adult 7 v 7 League will be getting underway next week. There is still time to sign up for both activities at the Metros web site at NashvilleMetrosSoccer.com. The Metros FC youth club is also joining with Pinnacle Sports 3 v 3 Live Soccer to sponsor a tournament at the new Metro Soccer Park on Donelson Pike on July 12. More information and sign-up forms for the 3 v 3 are available here.

Metros take on Carolina in Murfreesboro
June 6, 2008 - Aiming to forget a three-game road trip last weekend with nary a win to show for it, the Nashville Metros will seek refuge on Saturday night at their home-on-the-road, Richard Siegel Soccer Park in Murfreesboro, to take on the Carolina Dynamo. It will be the fourth time in the past three years that the Metros have taken the top level of soccer in Tennessee to the ‘Boro, which has rewarded the team with large, enthusiastic crowds on each occasion.

Carolina Dynamo vs. Nashville Metros
The Metros (2-0-5. 6 points) are 0-7 against the Dynamo over the past three seasons, including a 2-0 loss at Greensboro in the first match of 2008 for both squads. Four of those losses have been shutouts. To say that Carolina has had Nashville’s number would be an understatement. Overconfidence will not be a problem for the Metros heading into this huge match.

But Carolina, headed by 2006 PDL Coach of the Year Joe Brown, has not been its usual dominant self in the Southeast Division thus far in 2008. The Dynamo (3-1-2, 10 points) are running in the middle of the pack nearing the halfway point of the season. In fourth place in the eight-team division, Carolina is just a slot ahead of the Metros and has struggled on the road, where they have lost two out of three matches.

If the Metros hope to vault back into respectability in the division this season, surprising the Dynamo in Murfreesboro on Saturday night could be a big step in the right direction.

TEAM NOTES
Beat Up Bristol: Excuse Metros defender Jason Bristol if he looks like he went 10 rounds with a chainsaw. As he went in for a header against the Panama City Pirates last Sunday, Bristol got well acquainted with Panama City goalkeeper Joe Nasco, who did his best to take off Bristol’s head without benefit of anesthetic. While Nasco wasn’t called for the hit, Bristol was called offside on the free kick and went to the sidelines for about 10 minutes as the trainer put his facial features back in the right place. Bristol was somehow able to finish the match.

Stewart Sees Red: In a fairly mild-mannered game the previous night, Josh Stewart was given a straight red card on what seemed to be a routine midfield tackle in the 39th minute against the Central Florida Kraze. It was the third time in seven games that a Metros player has been ejected from a contest, leaving Coach Rico Laise as red as the card Stewart was shown. Playing a man down the rest of the match, the Metros went on to a wilting 4-0 loss to the first-place Kraze.

AROUND THE LEAGUE
As the Metros complete the first half of their season this weekend, the PDL’s Thunder Bay Chill will just be getting their campaign underway. No, they didn’t forget to set their alarm. The Ontario-based team has had to wait until the frozen tundra of Thunder Bay thawed so they could get their soccer season underway. Or maybe they have just been waiting to see who they have to beat. The Chill, who will pack a 16-game schedule into just six weeks, won the Heartland Division last year with a fine 10-3-3 record.

Metros hit the road for divisional matches
May 26, 2008 - If the Nashville Metros hope to break out of the middle of the pack in the Southeast Division this week, they’ll have to do it the hard way with three tough divisional road matches in Atlanta, Orlando and Panama City.

The Metros (2-0-2, 6 points) have already equaled their win total from last year in just the first quarter of the season, making good on Head Coach Rico Laise’s promise to field a more competitive squad this year. But the road ahead doesn’t get any easier for Nashville, which does not play a match in Middle Tennessee again until a June 7 game with the Carolina Dynamo at Murfreesboro’s Richard Siegel Soccer Complex.

Nashville Metros vs. Atlanta Silverbacks U23's
It will be the first of four matches to determine the 2008 winner of the Willie B. Cup, the trophy awarded to the winner of the season series between longtime rivals Nashville and Atlanta. The series began in 2000 when both teams competed in United Soccer Leagues’ First Division and the Metros won two of the first three Cups. The series was renewed when Atlanta began fielding a PDL team in 2006 and the Silverbacks have won both Cup ties since the series was resumed. The Cup is named for the late Willie B., the iconic Silverback gorilla from Zoo Atlanta who was beloved by many in the Atlanta area, as well a countless visitors.

The Silverbacks (2-1-1, 7 points) have a talented squad led offensively by Ryan Roushandel, who already has three goals and an assist to his credit in four matches. A familiar face on the Silverbacks roster will be U.S. U-23 national team player Daniel Kelly of Franklin, who saw limited action for Nashville over the past two seasons due to national team commitments.

Nashville Metros vs. Central Florida Kraze
The Metros begin their weekend of back-to-back road matches against the division-leading Central Florida Kraze (4-0-0, 12 points), who are undefeated pending the result of a late Memorial Day road match against the Bradenton Academics.

Central Florida was one of two divisional playoff entrants last season and does not appear to be losing a beat in 2008. Nine-year Head Coach Joe Avallone has a deep, offensive-minded team that finished second in the PDL in scoring last season with 47 goals. This year, dangerous midfielder Carlos Araujo Jr. is pacing the Kraze with nine points (4 goals, 1 assist) in helping the team to its quick start.

The Metros have played Central Florida just twice before and have little but frustration to show for their efforts, including road losses of 3-1 in 2003 and a 5-1 shellacking last year.

Nashville Metros vs. Panama City Pirates
A four-hour bus ride and a short rest will take the Metros from the Orlando area to beautiful Panama City, affectionately known to many vacationing Middle Tennesseans as the “Redneck Riviera,” as Nashville pays its first visit to the Panama City Pirates.

The expansion Pirates, (0-2-4, 2 points), play under an intimidating Jolly Roger banner emblazoned with the legend, “Dead Men Score No Goals.” If that’s true, maybe Panama City’s inaugural Head Coach Bill Elliott can have his trainer take the pulse of both his team and the Metros, two of the division’s lower-scoring teams so far in 2008.

Whatever else happens on the three-game trip, the Metros do not want to be the first squad to fall victim to the Pirates. To pull out a win, Nashville will have to put together another gritty performance reminiscent of their season-opening road trip, where they won the second of back-to-back games in North Carolina 2-0 over the Cary RailHawks U23's after falling the previous night by an identical score to the Carolina Dynamo.

TEAM NOTES
Feast or Famine: The Metros and veteran goalkeeper Kyle Roelke have already recorded two shutouts in their first four matches, the first time they have reached that plateau since 2005. The feat means Nashville has the third-best defense so far in the eight-team Southeast Division after the first four matches. Unfortunately, they have also been shut out in their other two games by identical 2-0 scores, continuing a goal-scoring drought extending into last season, when the Metros were recorded the second-lowest goal total (12) I the entire PDL.

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 here.

Metros take on Florida rivals this week in two-game home stand
May 19, 2008 - The Nashville Metros get their home season underway with two big games against divisional rivals this week, a Wednesday night tilt with the Bradenton Academics and a Saturday night date with the Palm Beach Pumas. The Metros are 1-1-0 on the young season following the split of a two-game road trip last week in North Carolina. The Metros fell 2-0 on Saturday night to the talented Carolina Dynamo, then turned around Sunday afternoon to earn a gritty 2-0 victory over the Cary RailHawks U23's for their first road win since the 2006 season.

Head Coach Rico Laise’s preseason pledge to field a more competitive team this year appears to be taking shape with several talented rookies like Michael Marten and Santiago Snellgrose helping the team on its road trip. Ten-year veteran Danny Devall and other veterans including Mark Photivihok, Xander Vooys and Jeff Boynton are expected to bolster the squad on its return to home turf this week as Nashville seeks a return to respectability after a disappointing season in 2007.

Bradenton Academics vs. Nashville Metros
The Academics (1-1-0, 4) points are named for the IMG Academy in Bradenton, where talented young soccer players attend school and train together in one of the nation’s top residential sports programs. Bradenton Coach Tom Durkin, now in his ninth season, always has a talented team and last year was no exception as the Academics posted a fine 8-4-4 record to finish fourth in the eight-team Southeastern Division of the PDL.

The Metros were 0-1-1 against Bradenton last year, suffering a 1-0 loss at Ezell Park and earning a scoreless draw in Bradenton. Nashville is 1-1-1 against the Academics all-time, with a 4-1 home victory over the Academics in 2003. This year, Bradenton comes to Nashville fresh from Saturday night’s 4-2 home win over the previously undefeated Carolina Dynamo, a perennial playoff contender in the division.

Durkin’s squad is lead by two All-Southern Conference performers from 2007, forward Zak Boggs and goalkeeper Diego Restrepo. Another dangerous player is midfielder Anta Ampaipitakwong, a slick ball-handler and announcer’s nightmare, who set up Bradenton’s sole goal against Nashville last season.

Palm Beach Pumas vs. Nashville Metros
The Pumas (0-0-2, 0 points) were an enigma last year, fielding a fast, talented squad that struggled to a 4-1-10 record to finish sixth in the Southeast Division, just a slot ahead of the Metros. In their only meeting of the season, Nashville sprinted out to a 3-0 lead then had to hold on against a furious Palm Beach comeback to earn a 4-2 victory.

New Head Coach Gerry Queen, a PDL veteran who previously led the Cocoa Expos to two playoff appearances, is fighting a schedule that gave him two losses to open the season against the division’s two playoff teams from 2007, the Central Florida Kraze and Carolina Dynamo. Before heading to Nashville for Saturday’s match, he’ll also make a stop in Atlanta on Thursday for a match with the Atlanta Silverbacks.

The match will be a great early test for Nashville, which needs to win at home against teams like the Pumas to get back into the playoff picture this year.

TEAM NOTES
Freight Train Back on Track: Every time Danny Devall, 35, steps onto the pitch at Ezell Park, it’s a new record. What Metros records are not held by all-time Nashville leading scorer and inaugural Metros Hall of Fame member Pasi Kinturi, who retired from the game two years ago, are probably held by Devall. After nine seasons with the team, Devall has played 8,269 minutes in 97 games, both team records. The fiery midfielder, who earned his nickname for running through opposing players when he can’t run around them, has looked sharp as ever in preseason training. Although he plays mostly in home matches these days due to work and family commitments, Devall looks like a sure bet this year to play in his 100th Metros match.

Metros Celebrate Parks Partnership: Since the 2002 season, the Metros have partnered with the Metro Board of Parks and Recreation to expand soccer opportunities for recreational and select youth players, along with established adult leagues. The Metros have begun their own recreational league and the Nashville Metros FC for competitive youth players. The team hosts several established adult leagues and will host the Metros 7v7 League for the third time this summer. None of these opportunities would have been possible without the help, support and encouragement of the Metro Parks Department, which has allowed the Metros to manage Ezell Park and the new Metro Soccer Complex adjacent to the Dell complex off Murfreesboro Road and Donelson Pike. To celebrate this fine public-private partnership, the Metros will host more than 300 young fans from Metro’s community centers, along with more than 50 Parks Department administrators and employees, at the home opener on Wednesday night to thank them for their great work.

Are You Tuff Enough?: No pads, no time-outs, no whining, just 90 minutes of non-stop hard action. That’s Metros soccer. That’s why Tuff Equipment Company of Goodlettsville has joined with the Metros this season as the team’s new title sponsor. Headed by soccer fans Chad Morgan and Chip Smith, Tuff will have its logo on the front of the Metros uniform to signify that it is a tough as the Nashville Metros. Tuff Equipment serves the construction, landscape, and forestry industries with tough Gehl and Rayco equipment that helps build Middle Tennessee communities.

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 here.

AROUND THE LEAGUE
Last year’s playoff teams from the Southeast Division, the Central Florida Kraze and Carolina Dynamo, are already making a statement that they would like to return to the Southern Conference playoffs this season. Central Florida has jumped out to a 4-0-0 record (12 points) while the Dynamo are 3-0-1, 9 points. A couple of wins this weekend for Nashville will keep them in the thick of the early season playoff chase.

METROS OPEN HOME SEASON AFTER NORTH CAROLINA SPLIT
May 16, 2008 - 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 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 21 against the Bradenton Academics. The Metros will also suit up at 7:00 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 U23's 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 the May 16 edition tracing Ayres' improbable odyssey from the Metros to MLS in a single season.

Turn in Those Pink Pennies: Michael Marten 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 two 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 here.

Metros UNWRAP 2008 season with NORTH CAROLINA SWING
May 8, 2008 - The Nashville Metros will kick off their 2008 soccer season this weekend with a pair of matches in North Carolina as they take on the Carolina Dynamo on Saturday night and the Cary RailHawks U23's on Sunday afternoon. Still smarting from the team's 2-3-11 campaign in 2007, the worst season in Metros history, Head Coach Rico Laise has been looking at a lot of new talent and some longtime fan favorites in recent weeks in an effort to find the right combinations for this year's team.

"I think we'll be better this year and much more competitive. Our starters looked good in both our pre-season matches (a 2-2 tie and 0-0 tie against the St. Louis Lions). We've got some big holes to fill on defense and we're trying to find the right combinations to get some scoring chances. We'll know a lot more about our team after this weekend," Laise said.

While players will not be officially signed until later this week, Laise said longtime Metros like ten-season veteran Danny Devall and sixth-year midfielder Mark Photivihok are definitely part of his plans for the season. Others who have looked good in training sessions include Fynn Glover and Bryan Lowder, both of whom will be entering their third season with the team, along with tough defenders Xander Vooys and Jeff Boynton.

Nashville Metros vs. Carolina Dynamo
The Dynamo are a perennial playoff contender and the Metros have yet to beat them in six tries over the past two seasons. Although the Dynamo went through an ownership change during the off-season, with 11-year Head Coach Joe Brown and General Manager Scott Zapko buying the team from its previous owners, the team does not look to be losing a stride as it welcomes the Metros for the first match of the year for both teams.

Brown's Dynamo had a fine 11-2-3 season in 2007, winning the Southeast Division and making it to the Southern Conference finals, where they fell to the eventual PDL champion Laredo Heat. Drawing from the talent-rich soccer pool in the region, which boasts NCAA powerhouses like Duke, Wake Forest, North Carolina, Coastal Carolina and South Carolina, the Dynamo will provide a stern early-season test for Nashville as both teams try to get their season off on the right foot.

Nashville Metros vs. Cary RailHawks U23's
After just two seasons playing each other regularly in the Southeast Division, the Metros and the RailHawks have developed an intense rivalry that has led to some fascinating, competitive matches. The teams are 2-3-2 against each other over the span and will meet each other four times this year.

Cary worked its way to a respectable 7-3-6 record last year. They will host the Metros for their first home match of the season on Sunday after opening their season on Friday night against the Atlanta Silverbacks in Atlanta.

TEAM NOTES
Metros Unveil New Price: After years of holding the line on ticket prices, the Metros have decided to cut prices to $5.00 for all admissions to home matches at both Ezell Park Stadium and Richard Siegel Championship Soccer Park in Murfreesboro this year. Group ticket prices for 20 or more fans are just $4.00 per person. Season tickets are $40.00 for a ten-ticket package that can be used in any combination for any Metros matches. While other sports teams raise prices almost annually, the Metros are committed to remaining the best family entertainment value in town.

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 can be found here.

Metros kick off 2008 season with two game road trip
April 4, 2008 - Determined to return to the Premier Development League playoffs after a six-year absence, the Nashville Metros will launch their 19th soccer season on Saturday, May 10 in Greensboro, N.C. against the perennial Southeast Division playoff contender Carolina Dynamo. The road trip will also take them through Raleigh for a Sunday afternoon match with the Cary RailHawks U23's. Both road matches, as well as two home matches in two weeks, will double as qualifiers for the U.S. Open Cup national soccer championship tournament.

The 2008 regular season at Ezell Park also will feature two home matches against the Atlanta Silverbacks U23's, as well as matches against the Carolina and Cary. Those two North Carolina teams will also travel to Murfreesboro’s Richard Siegel Park Championship Soccer Complex to meet the Metros in June. The entire 2008 schedule can be found here.

In addition to Nashville, the eight-team Southeast Division of the PDL includes Atlanta, Carolina, Cary, Bradenton, Palm Beach, Central Florida Kraze and the expansion Panama City Pirates. The top two finishers in the Southeast Division will meet the top two teams from the Mid South Division in the Southern Conference playoffs on July 25 - 27 at the home field of one of the playoff qualifiers. The winner goes on to the PDL Semifinals and Championships, which will be held the first two weekends of August.

Head Coach Rico Laise said he hopes to help the team recover from a disappointing 2007 campaign, where the Metros recorded a 2-3-11 record.

To tune up for the season, the Metros will also play a home-and-home exhibition series against the St. Louis Lions. The Metros will host the Lions at 5 p.m. on April 26 at Ezell Park Stadium, then travel to St. Louis for a rematch on May 3. Admission to the April 26 match is free for all Metros fans.

Season tickets for the 2008 Metros season are on sale now. Click here for a ticket order form. A 10-ticket Flex-Pass is just $40.00 for both adults and youth and tickets can be used in any combination for any 2008 Nashville Metros match. Single game tickets are $5.00

Ayres gets contract with Earthquakes of MLS
March 10, 2008 - For the second time in three years, a Nashville Metros player has exchanged his Metros uniform for a pro soccer contract. 2007 Metros defender Jay Ayres has been signed to a developmental contract with the San Jose Earthquakes of Major League Soccer.

After an extended stay at training camp and several appearances in preseason matches, Ayres was offered a contract by Earthquakes Head Coach Frank Yallop. In one of those matches, Ayres was paired on the back line with the last Nashville player to move from the Metros into the professional ranks, 2005 defender J.P. Rodrigues, who was also trying out with the Earthquakes. Rodrigues, a Belmont University product, started every game for the Metros in 2005 and was the No. 1 draft choice of FC Miami in United Soccer Leagues’ First Division, where he played for the last two seasons. Ayres, also from Belmont, played 13 games and logged more than 1,100 minutes for the Metros in 2007.

Metros Head Coach Rico Laise, who helped get Ayres the tryout in San Jose, said the developmental contract is a "huge opportunity" for Ayres that will give him a chance to work himself onto the Quakes first team. "We're all proud of him and we are all pulling for him. As much as I will miss him in our lineup, I believe my job is to help them all get out of our organization and to the pros," Laise said.

Laise and his staff will be evaluating potential replacements for Ayres and other possible Metros roster positions next weekend at the team’s open tryouts. Aspiring players should arrive at the Ezell Park complex by 8:00 a.m. on Saturday in order to complete registration forms and prepare for on-field workouts, which will begin at 9:30 a.m. A $25.00 fee will be charged to all players trying out for the team to defray the cost of evaluations and numbered training t-shirts for all participants.

The Metros will open their preseason on April 26 with a home match against the St. Louis Lions. Their 19th regular season begins on May 10, when Nashville visits the Carolina Dynamo.

Metros tryouts scheduled for mid-March
February 19, 2008 - The Nashville Metros Soccer Club will hold open tryouts for its 2008 season on March 15 and 16 at its facility at Nashville’s Ezell Park. Aspiring players should arrive at the Ezell Park complex by 8:00 a.m. in order to complete registration forms and prepare for the on-field workouts, which will begin at 9:30 a.m. A $25.00 fee will be charged to all players trying out for the team to defray the cost of evaluations and numbered training t-shirts for all participants.

Head Coach Rico Laise said the team, which begins its 19th season in May, always seems to find quality players who have gone unscouted and overlooked through the tryout process. Last year, he noted, both Josh and Jonah Stewart logged substantial playing time for the Metros after having been "discovered" in the open tryout sessions. The team will also be looking for players for its Metros Reserves squad, which participates weekly in local leagues to allow players to further develop their skills.

Laise said the tryout process will include players participating in warm-ups, positional training, drills and small-sided games on Saturday. The first round of cuts will be announced following the Saturday afternoon session. Forty players will be invited to return at 9 a.m. on Sunday will participate in additional training exercises and full-sided games. Players attending the tryouts should bring a soccer resume, including their playing history, along with their personal playing equipment.

The four Conference Championship Tournaments will be held July 25-27 with the PDL Semifinals August 1-2 and the PDL Championship Saturday, August 9. For more information about league membership, divisional alignment and playoff structure, click here for the official release from the United Soccer Leagues.

NASHVILLE METROS NEWS ARCHIVE