Renasant Recap: Nashville Soccer Club Caps Best Regular Season in MLS History with Wins and Points Record

• The Boys in Gold win 2-0 at FC Cincinnati to set MLS records for wins (23) and points (77) in a single season

• Nashville SC sets multiple additional MLS records including fewest losses in a regular season with three and fewest goals conceded in a single regular season with 25

• MLS Goalkeeper and Newcomer of the Year candidate Brian Schwake makes five saves and ties Tony Meola's single regular season MLS shutout record of 16

• Landon Donovan MLS MVP candidate Sam Surridge reaches 20-plus goal mark for the second consecutive season with brace

CINCINNATI (Nov. 7, 2026) – Nashville Soccer Club capped a historic regular season Saturday, defeating FC Cincinnati 2-0 at TQL Stadium to set MLS records for wins (23), points (77), fewest losses (3), points per game (2.26), win percentage (79.4), fewest goals conceded (25) and the largest Supporters’ Shield points margin (13) while tying the league record for clean sheets in a single season with 17.

After 60 scoreless minutes, Landon Donovan MLS MVP candidate Sam Surridge scored his team-leading 20^th MLS goal of the season from Defender of the Year candidate Andy Najar and midfielder Patrick Yazbek to give the Boys in Gold the 1-0 lead before netting a brace to double the margin on assists from Yazbek and defender Josh Bauer in the 86^th minute.

Sweet 16: By recording his club-record 16^th MLS regular season shutout of 2026, MLS Goalkeeper and Newcomer of the Year candidate Brian Schwake tied Tony Meola's single season league record set in 2000.

Top billing: Sigi Schmid MLS Coach of the Year candidate B.J. Callaghan earned his 42^nd career regular season victory as Nashville SC head coach Saturday afternoon. Callaghan's 42 wins through 77 matches are the most in MLS history.

Kings of the road: With its victory Saturday, Nashville SC also set a club record for most road wins in a single regular season with eight.

Next up: Nashville SC will begin its Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs Round One Best-of-3 Series at GEODIS Park on Sunday, Nov. 22 when it hosts the winner of the Eastern Conference Wild Card round between FC Cincinnati and Orlando City SC at a time to be determined.

Notes:

Nashville SC

• set the MLS record for regular season wins with 23
• set the MLS record for regular season points with 77
• set the MLS record for largest Supporters' Shield points margin at 13
• set the MLS record for regular season points per game with 2.26
• set the MLS record for regular season win percentage at 79.4%
• set the MLS record for fewest losses in a regular season with three
• tied the MLS record for most clean sheets in a single regular season with 17
• set the MLS record for fewest goals conceded in a single regular season with 25
• set a club record for regular season road wins with eight
• set a club record with 71 regular season goals scored
• is unbeaten in 26 of its last 28 MLS matches at 19W-2L-7D
• is unbeaten in 38 of 45 matches this season across all competitions (MLS, Concacaf Champions Cup, Leagues Cup)
• is 27W-7L-11D across all competitions this season

B.J. Callaghan set the MLS record for the most wins (42) through 77 matches coached in MLS history

Josh Bauer tied a career-high with his second MLS assist of the season

Cristian Espinoza made his 250^th career MLS appearance (regular season + playoffs)

Jack Maher made his first start since Sept. 9 at Toronto FC

Andy Najar tied a career-high with his 10^th MLS assist of the season

Jeisson Palacios did not dress due to a lower body injury

Brian Schwake made five saves and tied Tony Meola's MLS record of 16 clean sheets in a single regular season set in 2000

Sam Surridge

• reached the 20-plus MLS goal mark for the second consecutive season with his brace
• earned Man of the Match honors 

Patrick Yazbek set a career-high with his fifth and sixth MLS assists of the season

Box score:                   

Nashville SC (23W-3L-8D) at FC Cincinnati (12W-12L-10D) 

Nov. 7, 2026 – TQL Stadium

Final score:                  

NSH: 2 

CIN: 0

Scoring summary: 

NSH: Sam Surridge (A: Andy Najar, Patrick Yazbek) 61' 

NSH: Sam Surridge (A: Patrick Yazbek, Josh Bauer) 86'

Discipline: 

CIN: Obinna Nwobodo (Caution) 31' 

CIN: Evander (Caution) 41' 

CIN: Samuel Gidi (Caution) 45' + 3 

CIN: Kyle Smith (Caution) 65' 

CIN: Pavel Bucha (Caution) 88' 

NSH: Alex Muyl (Caution) 90' 

NSH: Maxwell Woledzi (Caution) 90' + 6

Lineups:

NSH starters: Brian Schwake; Reed Baker-Whiting, Jack Maher, Maxwell Woledzi, Andy Najar (Josh Bauer 83’); Elias Saad (Alex Muyl 83’), Patrick Yazbek, Matthew Corcoran (Bryan Acosta 74’); Hany Mukhtar (C) (Warren Madrigal 90’), Sam Surridge, Cristian Espinoza (Shak Mohammed 74’)

Substitutes: Joe Willis, Dan Lovitz, Eddi Tagseth, Thomas Williams

CIN starters: Roman Celentano; Samuel Gidi, Teenage Hadebe (Miles Robinson 46’), Kyle Smith (Ayoub Jabbari 81’); Bryan Ramirez, Obinna Nwobodo (Jose Martinez 87’), Evander (C), Pavel Bucha, David Doudera (Ender Echenique 66’); Kevin Denkey, Tom Barlow (Kenji Mboma Dem 66’)

Substitutes: Evan Louro, Alvas Powell, Brian Anunga, Gerardo Valenzuela

Match officials:            

Referee: Tori Penso 

AR1: Brooke Mayo 

AR2: Jeffrey Swartzel 

4TH: Carlos Rodriguez 

VAR: Michael Radchuk 

AVAR: Joshua Patlak

Weather: 55 degrees and sunny