Metros get down to business of playoffs

Enough of the business of soccer. For the Nashville Metros, it's once again time to get down to business as the Charlotte Eagles come to town Saturday night.

"Our boys have proved that they can keep their focus through all the rumors about the (A-League rights transfer) sale and now that it's done I think they'll continue to do so," head coach Brett Mosen said. "They'll continue to play hard and do what they're paid to do.

"Every game brings a different goal. It's our goal to get to the playoffs, and if we finish third we get a guaranteed spot. It's true that something with have to go drastically wrong for us not to qualify, but until that fat lady's singing, I won't be happy."

The players know that their record (13-9-2, 59 points) stacks up well with the others fighting for playoff berths. Fifteen teams are essentially vying for 12 postseason spots. The Richmond Kickers, Hershey Wildcats, Rochester Raging Rhinos and Vancouver Whitecaps are in. The Indiana Blast, Cincinnati Riverhawks, Long Island Rough Riders, Toronto Lynx and Minnesota Thunder are out. The El Paso Patriots are mathematically still alive, but it would take two maximum point wins plus the complete collapse of some other league sides to keep their 2001 campaign going.

Nashville is part of a group including Charlotte (12-9-2, 56 points) that knows the best way to get in is to make your own spot by winning your remaining games. For Nashville, a win at Ezell in the contest that starts at 7 p.m. might also mean that Mosen could rest some of his season-weary starters against the homestanding Charleston Battery Sept. 8 so that his side would be fresh for the playoffs that begin just four days later.

"I had a chat with Brett a few weeks ago where we were talking about the games we needed to win. We looked at the five home games that remained, and said we need to win as many as possible so that we don't go into Charleston needing to win in order to make the playoffs," defender James Wall said. "Charlotte is a big game that we want to win to get as many points as we can and finish as high as possible in the league. Obviously, it's his decision as to when to play or rest players, but if we beat Charlotte Brett would obviously have that option."

And there's also the matter of consistency. "We want to go into the playoffs on a winning streak. Winning is about habits and so is losing," Wall noted. "You can get into habits that lead to streaks where you don't win anything, or habits where you keep winning even when you're not playing always playing your best, so for us continuing to win hopefully will allow us to build things up as we go into the playoffs and take it as far as we can."

What about the standings, where the top three teams in each conference get an automatic bid? The Metros are currently third in the Central Conference, and would obviously like to keep it that way. "The points are important for us. Right now we'd like to get up there to one of those top spots," forward Jeff Houser said. "If we can get a bye, that would be great, if not we still want to solidify our position going into the playoffs."

The side is trying to keep focused and not get too high or too low regarding the outcome of this week's action. "It's another step. If we win, it'll keep our confidence high; if we lose, we'll just have to keep working," goalkeeper Cole Burgman said.

"I think the scenario is really new to a lot of these guys," veteran midfielder Dominic Schell said of the largely young Nashville team. "I think if we keep winning...it helps our confidence. If we continue as we've been going, I don't see us out in the first round. I see us going all the way to finals if we play our game. If we do go out, it will be our fault, not somebody else's."

Before any chance for postseason glory, though, stand two last opponents. This week's enemy is a Charlotte team that is 12-9-2 with 56 points. They'd like nothing better than to spoil the Metros' regular season home finale and put themselves into third in the conference behind Richmond and Charleston. The Eagles beat and tied the Kickers two weeks ago in a home-and-home series, and have beaten the Battery, the Wildcats and the Raging Rhinos this year as well.

They play against the Atlanta Silverbacks the night before, though, and their two opponents this weekend represent the only conference teams that the Eagles haven't beaten this year.

Charlotte forward Dustin Swinehart is the fifth-best scorer in the league with 13 goals and three assists. Midfielders Ryan Leib (five goals, four assists) and Leo Gajardo (four goals, one assist) are also solid scorers, as are Caleb Norkus (three goals, five assists) and Mark Pinch (two goals, five assists).

The Eagles have made great strides defensively as the season has progressed. Coach Mark Steffens back line had not given up more than two goals to an A-League opponent since May 11 (when Nashville beat them 4-2) until a 3-3 tie on the road with the Portland Timbers last weekend. Goalkeeper Dwayne Adams has an 11-7-2 record with a goals-against-average of 1.46.

"Charlotte's a hard-working team, so we've got to make sure we come out and match their intensity," defender Carl Schmitt said.

A win over Charlotte would give the Metros their second-best home record of their five-year A-League history. Currently 8-3-1 at Ezell, the team can best its 1997 home record of 9-4 if it beats the Eagles. The franchise's best home record was in 1998, when it went 11-4 on its own pitch enroute to capturing the Central Conference championship with an overall record of 20-8.

THE IRON MAN COMETH

Defender Ben Fisher, the Metros' all-time leader in minutes played, received medical clearance to resume training this week following surgery in June to repair a detached retina in his eye. Fisher was injured when he was kicked in the eye during an exhibition match with the Bermuda National Team in April.

"I knew it would be close to the end of the season, close to the start of playoffs," Fisher said. "I'd pretty much figured I was done for the year, so it's nice to be back. It feels good running around the field. I'm pretty fit. I've been riding a bike for the past two months, and I've been running for the last two weeks, so I feel pretty good. I don't know if I'm game fit, but I'm fairly close."

"We may be able to fit him into the action at some point this weekend," Mosen said with a smile.

YOU'RE GOOD, REAL GOOD

Metros forwards Jakob Fenger (14 goals, five assists) and Houser (13 goals, five assists) presently occupy the No. 2 and No. 3 spots in A-League scoring behind Charleston's terrific striker Paul Conway (20 goals, three assists). Midfielder Jaymi Bailey still leads the league in assists with 11.

"My goal coming into this year was to get 15, some I'm only two back from that," Houser said. "If I can get up to 15, and then get a few more in the playoffs, I think we can do well."

INJURY REPORT

Midfielder Gabe Valencia remains hobbled by ankle problems. He hasn't played since Aug. 17 and is doubtful against Charlotte. Midfielder Brian Hinkey is receiving treatment for problems with his knee and is also questionable for this Saturday's match. Midfielder Pablo Pinzon resumed training this week after pulling a quad muscle in practice last week, and Burgman, who did not man the goal last weekend because of back spasms, also took to the field again. Midfielder Jeff "Nacho" Dominguez participated in light training this week because of tendonitis, according to team reports.

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Nashville vs. Charlotte

Ezell Park