Irakoze Donasiyano photo by Matt Riley/Courtesy UVA Athletic Media Relations
Welcome to Boys in Not Gold, taking a look at Nashville SC’s players who are currently away on assignment.
Midfielder Aníbal Godoy
With Panama’s national team for 2022 World Cup Qualifying matches through Monday
Godoy headed to the Dominican Republic yesterday, where his Panama squad will face Barbados Thursday and Dominica Sunday in World Cup Qualifying matches. Panama is favored to win Group D in the first round of qualifying, which would earn a two-legged head-to-head matchup against the Group C winner in Round Two, for the right to participate in The Octagonal round, which is when the United States begins its qualifying journey.
Up next: Panama v. Barbados • 7 p.m. CDT Thursday • Santo Domingo, D.R.
Panama v. Dominica • 2 p.m. CDT Sunday • Santo Domingo, D.R.
Defender Alistair Johnston
With Canada’s national team for 2022 World Cup Qualifying matches through Monday
Johnston’s Canada doesn’t have to undergo the same international travel complications (for MLS-based players, at least) to participate in its Round One qualifying matches this week: the Canucks play in Central Florida, which will allow Johnston easy access to re-joining the Boys in Gold. Canada headlines Group B – whose winner has the head-to-head with Group A – and takes on Bermuda and the Cayman Islands this week.
Up next: Canada v. Bermuda • 7 p.m. CDT Thursday • Orlando, Fla.
Canada v. Cayman Islands • 3 p.m. CDT Sunday • Bradenton, Fla.
Winger Randall Leal
With Costa Rica’s U-23s for Concacaf Olympic Qualifying tournament through March 24
Leal’s Costa Rica lost its first two games of qualifying for the 2020* Olympics to Mexico and the United States, and is eliminated from advancing out of the group stage. The Ticos will take on Dominican Republic – also eliminated from the competition – to close out the trip to Guadalajara later this week. Hopefully he gets a chance to shine offensively (or is simply allowed to return to Nashville’s preseason) with both teams merely playing for pride.
He took just one shot in the 1-0 loss to the United States, but completed 19/24 passes, intercepted one pass, and committed one foul. He was deployed as a more traditional midfielder (rather than his primary position on the wing), which prevented him from having as much statistical impact as you’d have liked.
Against Mexico, he was once again played in a midfield role rather than as an attacking winger. His team lost 3-0 to El Tri, with Leal taking a team-leading two shots. He also committed five fouls – he was very close to a yellow card on a couple occasions before picking one up – and made three successful tackles.
Up next: Costa Rica v. Dominican Republic • Wednesday, 6 p.m. CDT (FS1/TUDN)
Defender Miguel Nazarit
On season-long loan to Independiente Santa Fe in Colombia
Nazarit committed a turnover on a failed clearance that resulted in the opening goal for Envigado, and the reviews were not positive! Santa Fe was able to equalize before the half, but Envigado found a winner. With the loss, Santa Fe is in fourth in Categoria Primera A, and I would imagine Nazarit’s long slog to getting minutes for his team gets a major setback just as his former club, Once Caldas, appears on the schedule.
Up next: Santa Fe v. Once Caldas • Tuesday, 8 p.m. CDT
Defender Irakoze Donasiyano
With University of Virginia for the spring NCAA season.
Virginia beat Virginia Tech 2-0 in Charlottesville, earning a massive rivalry win (in a game with commentary from Nashville’s own John Freeman and Jamie Watson). Donasiyano played left back, but had positional flexibility to fill a centerback role in a pseudo-back-three, and also to get forward centrally as a hybrid midfielder. His only statistical contribution was a single foul committed, but he also had a crucial goal-line clearance in the first half of the game.
Up next: UVa v. University of Central Arkansas • 4 p.m. CDT Tuesday (ESPN+)
UVa v. Duke • Noon CDT Sunday (ESPN+)
Forward Leroy Enzugusi
With Drake University for the spring NCAA season.
Drake knocked off Loyola-Chicago (take that, Illinois!) 2-1 to move to 2-1-0 in The Valley this Spring. Enzugusi scored what ultimately stood as the game-winner in the 89th minute (Loyola’s goal actually came in the 90th – so Enzugusi’s tally was crucial), his first of the Spring. He also committed five fouls, one of them earning him a yellow card.
Up next: Drake @ Missouri State • 3:30 p.m. CDT Monday (today!)
Drake v. Evansville • 2 p.m. CDT Friday
Defender Tom Judge
With James Madison University through spring NCAA season.
James Madison beat Elon (a/k/a Dan Lovitz University) 1-0 on a penalty kick in the squad’s CAA opener. Judge received a yellow card in the 74th minute, committed two other fouls, and launched a shot that whistled high of the crossbar.
Up next: James Madison @ College of Charleston • 11 a.m. CDT Saturday
Defender Sondre Norheim
With Syracuse University through the spring NCAA season.
Syracuse drew North Carolina in a scoreless contest from ‘Cuse. Norheim started and went the distance, committing three fouls. He also took one shot, though it was ultimately off-target.
Up next: Syracuse @ NC State • 6 p.m. CDT Friday (ESPN+)
Goalkeeper Tor Saunders
With Coastal Carolina for the spring NCAA season.
Coastal Carolina drew Lipscomb 1-1 in a game that had weird momentum swings with Coastal dominating early, then the Bisons looking strong for most of the remainder of the match, before a late push from the Chanticleers couldn’t find a winner, even after two overtimes. Saunders went the distance in net, and the goal he gave up… wasn’t his finest moment:
…though the far more significant errors there belonged to various members of his backline. Coastal now has a couple weeks off before getting back to action.
Up next: Coastal Carolina v. UNC Wilmington • 5 p.m. CDT April 3
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