Bison Soccer's Bledsoe signs with Nashville SC
Lipscomb Athletics |
After spending last season with USL Cup champions, Louisville City, Lipscomb alumnus Micah Bledsoe ('17) signed a contract Friday, Feb. 10, to continue his professional soccer career with Nashville SC of the United Soccer League.
The former Lipscomb men's soccer standout, who double majored in accounting and financial management, signed his contract just one day before a crowd of 9,049 filled First Tennessee Park for Nashville SC's first ever exhibition game against Atlanta United of the MLS.
“It feels great to be back in Nashville and sign for NSC,” Bledsoe said. “Ever since the team was announced I knew that it was something that I wanted to be a part of. I am grateful for the opportunity to be back in Nashville playing soccer.”
Bledsoe will join fellow goalkeepers Matt Pickens, an MLS Cup champion, and CJ Cochran, previously of the Oklahoma City Energy in the USL, on the roster.
“We are thrilled for Micah and his opportunity here with Nashville SC,” Lipscomb head coach Charles Morrow said. “There is so much excitement in Nashville for this team and for Micah to have a front row seat for it all is a chance of a lifetime.”
Bledsoe helped rewrite the record books during his four-year stay in Nashville. He immediately took over the keeper position in his first season at Lipscomb and played well enough to earn ASUN-All Freshman honors.
The 6-foot-4 netminder hung up his Bison uniform as the program’s all-time leader in wins (26), save percentage (.735) and clean sheets (15). He also finished just three stops shy of setting the school’s all-time mark for career saves and was a 5-time ASUN Defensive Player of the Week.
Bledsoe will feel right at home training with assistant coach, Kyle Roelke. He played under Roelke when the team played in the NPSL during the summers of 2015 and 2016.
“I learned and grew a lot as a player while I was in Louisville last season,” Bledsoe said. “It was a tough adjustment at first, but being a part of such a successful side helped me develop the right habits and mentality to keep developing my game.”
Nashville SC are getting ready to begin their inaugural season in the USL. The team has evolved from amateur side, Nashville FC, which was founded in 2013 and played in the NPSL. Nashville has been awarded an MLS franchise, which is due to begin play in the league in 2020. It is thought that the MLS franchise will evolve from the current USL team and will keep the same name, crest, and colors.
After a high demand for tickets, Nashville SC will play its first regular season game at Nissan Stadium on March 24 against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.
Bledsoe became the fourth former Lipscomb Bison to sign a professional contract, behind Garret Pettis, Ben Page and Miguel DaSilva, when he signed for Louisville City last year.
Want to learn more about Lipscomb Athletics and other standout athletes? Visit LipscombSports.com.
- Note: This story has been updated from its original version on Lipscombsports.com.