Volunteer Shield

Volunteer Shield
Volunteer Shield held up at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga, Tennessee after being awarded to Chattanooga FC on July 4, 2015.
SportSoccer
LeagueNational Premier Soccer League
Awarded forBest NPSL team from the state of Tennessee
LocationTennessee
CountryUnited States
History
First award2015 (Plus retroactive 2014 awarding)
Editions6
Final award2019
First winnerChattanooga FC
Most winsChattanooga FC (5)
Most recentChattanooga FC (2019)
WebsiteVolunteer Shield Page

The Volunteer Shield was a trophy awarded to the primary supporter group of the Tennessean club in the National Premier Soccer League with the best head-to-head record. It was inaugurated in 2015, and awarded retroactively to Chattanooga FC for the best record during the 2014 season. The shield derives its name from the state's nickname, the "Volunteer State," and is made of Tulip Poplar, the official state tree of Tennessee.[1][2]

Teams

Originally contested between three teams, at the shield's peak it was contested between four clubs within the NPSL's Southeastern Conference. Chattanooga FC had been the longest standing member of the competition before it left the league following the 2019 season.

As of 2020, only one team in the NPSL (Inter Nashville) is based in the state of Tennessee.

Volunteer Shield Teams
Team Name First season No. of Shield Wins Last NPSL season
Chattanooga FC 2014 5 (2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019) 2019 (to NISA)
Emerald Force SC 2014 1 (2017) 2018 (folded)
Inter Nashville FC 2017 0 N/A
Memphis City FC 2016 0 2017 (to PDL)
Nashville FC 2014 0 2016 (folded)

Previous results

2014

2014 results summary
Team Pts Pld W L D GF GA GD
Chattanooga FC 10 4 3 0 1 12 1 +11
Nashville FC 7 4 2 1 1 5 2 +2
Knoxville Force 0 4 0 4 0 2 15 −13
Knoxville Force v Nashville FC
May 10, 2014 Knoxville Force 1–4 Nashville FC Knoxville, TN
Report

2015

2015 results summary
Team Pts Pld W L D GF GA GD
Chattanooga FC 10 4 3 0 1 9 3 +6
Nashville FC 6 4 2 2 0 10 7 +3
Knoxville Force 1 4 0 3 1 6 15 −9
Knoxville Force v Nashville FC
June 9, 2015 Knoxville Force 3–4 Nashville FC Knoxville, TN
Report Stadium: Sansom Sports Complex
Knoxville Force v Chattanooga FC
June 13, 2015 Knoxville Force 1–1 Chattanooga FC Knoxville, TN
Report Stadium: Sansom Sports Complex

2016

2016 results summary
Team Pts Pld W L D GF GA GD
Chattanooga FC 16 6 5 0 1 15 3 +12
Memphis City FC 10 6 3 2 1 13 9 +4
Knoxville Force 6 6 2 4 0 8 19 −11
Nashville FC 3 6 1 5 0 5 10 −5
Chattanooga FC v Nashville FC
May 21, 2016 (2016-05-21) Chattanooga FC 2–1 Nashville FC Chattanooga, TN
19:30 EDT (UTC-04:00)
  • Samuel Goni 55'
  • Luke Winter 62'
  • John Carrier Yellow card 64'
  • Liam Guest Yellow card 67'
  • Danny Reynolds Yellow card 90'
 CFC Report
NFC Report
  • Joel Kazhila Yellow card 32'
  • Elias Tamburini Yellow card 50'
  • Liam Collins Yellow card 62'
  • Kyle McLagan Yellow card 75'
  • Jordan Wright 86'
  • Denzel Woods Yellow card 86'
  • Alec Velez Yellow card 90'
 Stadium: Finley Stadium
Attendance: 5,593
Nashville FC v Memphis City FC
May 28, 2016 (2016-05-28) Nashville FC 0–1 Memphis City FC Nashville, TN
19:00 CDT (UTC-05:00)
  • Fazlo Alihodzic Yellow card 26'
  • Liam Collins Yellow card 40'
 NFC Report
MCFC Report
  • Blake Lashlee Yellow card 82'
  • Neil Cummings Yellow card 86'
  • Cameron Woodfin 89'
 Stadium: Vanderbilt Stadium
Attendance: 1,133
Knoxville Force v Nashville FC
June 4, 2016 (2016-06-04) Knoxville Force 3–2 Nashville FC Knoxville, TN
19:00 EDT (UTC-04:00)
  • Dallas Dunn 2'
  • Ryan Creel 65'
  • Cameron Schneider 83'
 KF Report
NFC Report
  • Elliot Goodwin 16'
  • Yuji Callahan 23'
 Stadium: Sansom Sports Complex
Chattanooga FC v Memphis City FC
June 4, 2016 (2016-06-04) Chattanooga FC 2–1 Memphis City FC Chattanooga, TN
19:30 EDT (UTC-04:00)
  • Jon Finlay 6'
  • William Roberts 31'
 CFC Report
MCFC Report
  • Santiago Moore 16'
  • Fakhry Kholfan Yellow card 61'
  • Luke Parker Yellow card 83'
 Stadium: Finley Stadium
Attendance: 3,464
Chattanooga FC v Knoxville Force
June 7, 2016 (2016-06-07) Chattanooga FC 4–0 Knoxville Force Chattanooga, TN
19:30 EDT (UTC-04:00)
  • Sindre Welo 47'
  • John Carter 66'
  • John Carter 73'
  • Juan Mendicabal 85'
  • David Perez Yellow card 89'
 CFC Report
KF Report
  • Jamie McLellan Yellow card 65'
 Stadium: Finley Stadium
Memphis City FC v Knoxville Force
June 12, 2016 (2016-06-12) Memphis City FC 5–1 Knoxville Force Memphis, TN
19:00 CDT (UTC-05:00) Stadium: Mike Rose Soccer Complex
Nashville FC v Chattanooga FC
June 16, 2016 (2016-06-16) Nashville FC 0–2 Chattanooga FC Nashville, TN
19:00 CDT (UTC-05:00)
  • Erik Furseth Yellow card 1'
  • Kyle McLagan Yellow card 8'
  • Nicholas Melville Yellow card 80'
 NFC ReportCFC Report
  • Luke Winter 36'
  • Danny Reynolds Yellow card 38'
  • Kieran Bywater 46'
 Stadium: Vanderbilt Stadium
Memphis City FC v Nashville FC
June 18, 2016 (2016-06-18) Memphis City FC 1–2 Nashville FC Memphis, TN
19:00 CDT (UTC-05:00) Stadium: Mike Rose Soccer Complex
Knoxville Force v Memphis City FC
July 2, 2016 Knoxville Force 3–4 Memphis City FC Knoxville, TN
Stadium: Sansom Sports Complex
Knoxville Force v Chattanooga FC
July 5, 2016 Knoxville Force 0–4 Chattanooga FC Knoxville, TN
Stadium: Sansom Sports Complex

2017

For 2017, the Southeast Conference was split in two with Knoxville Force competing in the East Division while Chattanooga FC, Memphis City FC, and new team Inter Nashville FC all competed in the West Division. To accommodate for this, the shield organizers divided the four teams into two groups:[3]

  • Chattanooga vs Inter Nashville
  • Memphis City vs Knoxville Force

The results from the two matches within each group would determine who wins that group. Once the two group winners emerge, the points earned in the two regular season matches the group winners played against one another would determine the overall winner. If those points were tied, or if the two group winners didn’t play in the regular season, the first tiebreaker would be the results of a playoff match between the group winners. If the group winners did not meet in the playoffs, then the overall results stand tied between the group winners and both would be listed a co-champions.

Chattanooga and Knoxville both won their groups on tie-breakers but since neither team played one-another in the regular season, the shield champion would be decided by tie-breaker whether that be a in a playoff match between the two sides or PointPerGame average vs other Tennessee teams.[4] In the first playoff round, which Knoxville had a bye in due to winning the East Division, Chattanooga fell to Nashville, 2-1, meaning the Knoxville Force won the shield based on PPG (1.5 to 1.0).[5]

Group A

2017 Group A
Team Pts Pld W L D GF GA GD SEC P SEC GD
Chattanooga FC 3 2 1 1 0 3 3 0 22 +21
Inter Nashville FC 3 2 1 1 0 3 3 0 22 +10

Tiebreakers: 1) Goal Diff in the two group matches; 2) Goals Scored in the two group matches; 3) Points earned in Southeast Conference play; 4) Goal Differential in Southeast Conference matches; 5) Coin-flip[6]

Chattanooga FC v Inter Nashville FC
June 17, 2017 Chattanooga FC 2–1 Inter Nashville FC Chattanooga, TN
19:30 EDT (UTC-04:00)
Report
  • Chamberlain 45'
  • Perez Yellow card 90'
  • Wilson Yellow card 90'
 Stadium: Finley Stadium
Inter Nashville FC v Chattanooga FC
July 1, 2017 Inter Nashville FC 2–1 Chattanooga FC Antioch, TN
  • Cordova 29', Yellow card 66'
  • Gomez 56'
  • Dunleavy Yellow card 73'
 Report
  • Whitehall 42', Yellow card 71'
  • Aldred Yellow card 69'
  • Bywater Yellow card 90'
 Stadium: International Indoor Soccer Complex

Group B

2017 Group B
Team Pts Pld W L D GF GA GD
Knoxville Force 3 2 1 1 0 4 3 +1
Memphis City FC 3 2 1 1 0 3 4 -1

Tiebreakers: 1) Goal Diff in the two group matches; 2) Goals Scored in the two group matches; 3) Points earned in Southeast Conference play; 4) Goal Differential in Southeast Conference matches; 5) Coin-flip

Knoxville Force v Memphis City FC
June 10, 2017 Knoxville Force 3–1 Memphis City FC Knoxville, TN
19:30 EDT (UTC-04:00)
  • Avgousti Yellow card 25'
  • Tim Baker 40'
  • Kelynack 51'
  • Taylor Yellow card 53'
  • Pickering Yellow card 70'
  • Bamba 87'
  • Foster Yellow card 90'
  • Schneider Yellow card 90'
 Report
  • Jones Yellow card 69'
  • Wadda 76'
 Stadium: Sansom Sports Complex
Memphis City FC v Knoxville Force
July 8, 2017 Memphis City FC 2–1 Knoxville Force Memphis, TN
19:00 EDT
  • Steele 32'
  • Wadda 44'
  • Moreto Yellow card 90'
 Report
  • Fernandez Yellow card 32'
  • Pickering 74'
 Stadium: Christian Brothers High School

Other 2017 matches between Tennessee teams

Inter Nashville FC v Memphis City FC
May 20, 2017 Inter Nashville FC 3–0 Memphis City FC Antioch, TN
19:30 EDT (UTC-04:00)
  • Kholfan Yellow card 27'
  • Medina 46'
  • Reichenberger 51'
  • Narke 77'
 Report Stadium: International Indoor Soccer Complex
Memphis City FC v Chattanooga FC
May 24, 2017 Memphis City FC 0–0 Chattanooga FC Memphis, TN
19:00 EDT
  • Nishi Yellow card 38'
  • Jones Yellow card 76'
 Report
  • Yuhaschek Yellow card 18'
  • Carrier Yellow card 79'
  • Bywater Yellow card 88'
 Stadium: Christian Brothers High School
Memphis City FC v Inter Nashville FC
May 27, 2017 Memphis City FC 0–0 Inter Nashville FC Memphis, TN
  • Nishi Yellow card 36'
 Report
  • Chamberlain Yellow card 68'
 Stadium: Christian Brothers High School
Chattanooga FC v Memphis City FC
June 28, 2017 Chattanooga FC 1–2 Memphis City FC Chattanooga, TN
  • Antonio 16'
  • De Smedt Yellow card 67'
 Report
  • Nishi 33'
  • Demba Yellow card 55'
  • Jones 67'
  • Hyman Yellow card 82'
 Stadium: Finley Stadium
Attendance: 3,854

2018

2018 results summary
Team Pts Pld W L D GF GA GD
Chattanooga FC 12 4 4 0 0 10 1 +9
Inter Nashville FC 6 4 2 2 0 7 7 0
Emerald Force SC 0 4 0 4 0 5 14 -9
Chattanooga FC v Emerald Force SC
May 19, 2018 Chattanooga FC 2–0 Emerald Force SC Chattanooga, TN
19:30 EDT (UTC-04:00)
  • Valenciano 62'
  • Clarke 78'
 Report
  • Zaczyk Yellow card 42'
  • Rodriguez Yellow card 90'
 Stadium: Finley Stadium
Emerald Force SC v Inter Nashville FC
May 26, 2018 Emerald Force SC 1–2 Inter Nashville FC Knoxville, TN
19:00 EDT
  • Garuba 44', Yellow card
  • Altman Yellow card 76'
  • Volny Yellow card 90'
 Report
  • de Jesus Yellow card 44'
  • Redmond Yellow card 49'
  • Emerald Force Soccer Club 61' (o.g.)
  • Sakou Yellow card 63', 73'
  • Sassano Yellow card 79'
 Stadium: Sansom Sports Complex
Emerald Force SC v Chattanooga FC
May 30, 2018 Emerald Force SC 1–5 Chattanooga FC Knoxville, TN
19:00 EDT
  • Barlow Yellow card 32'
  • Hellmann 34'
  • Zapata Yellow card 64'
 Report
  • Costa 3'
  • Clarke 11'
  • Mendizabal 22'
  • Oliveira 47'
  • Valenciano 65'
 Stadium: Sansom Sports Complex
Inter Nashville FC v Emerald Force SC
June 2, 2018 Inter Nashville FC 5–3 Emerald Force SC Antioch, TN
19:00 EDT
  • Collins Yellow card 11'
  • Dunleavy 22'
  • Sakou 26, 66'
  • Simon Yellow card 48'
  • Taylor 72'
  • Reichenberger 73'
 Report
  • Barlow 8', Yellow card 50' Yellow-red card 75'
  • Zapata Red card 30'
  • Garuba 42', Yellow card 73'
  • Alvarez 81'
 Stadium: International Indoor Soccer Complex
Inter Nashville FC v Chattanooga FC
June 13, 2018 Inter Nashville FC 0–2 Chattanooga FC Antioch, TN
19:00 EDT
  • Sakou Yellow card 2'
  • Taylor Yellow card 61' Yellow-red card 63'
 Report
  • Valenciano 42'
  • Ferraz 89'
 Stadium: International Indoor Soccer Complex
Chattanooga FC v Inter Nashville FC
July 4, 2018 Chattanooga FC 1–0 Inter Nashville FC Chattanooga, TN
19:30 EDT (UTC-04:00)
  • Oliveira 66'
 Report Stadium: Finley Stadium

2019

2019 results summary
Team Pts Pld W L D GF GA GD
Chattanooga FC 6 2 2 0 0 9 1 +8
Inter Nashville FC 0 2 0 2 0 1 9 -8
Chattanooga FC v Inter Nashville FC
June 8, 2018 Chattanooga FC 4–0 Inter Nashville FC Chattanooga, TN
19:30 EDT (UTC-04:00)
  • Ferraz 20, 50'
  • Mendizabal Yellow card 84'
  • Wilschrey Yellow card 86'
  • Oliveira Yellow card 89'
 Report
  • Brookes Yellow card 60'
 Stadium: Finley Stadium
Inter Nashville FC v Chattanooga FC
July 3, 2019 Inter Nashville FC 1–5 Chattanooga FC Antioch, TN
19:30 EDT
  • Moreland Yellow card 39'
  • Silva 48'
 Report
  • Dustan 4'
  • Walsh 33'
  • Ferraz 43'
  • Webb 47'
  • De Lima 51'
 Stadium: International Indoor Soccer Complex

See also

References

  1. ^ "The Yellow Hammer - Nashville FC Supporter's Club". Archived from the original on February 19, 2015. Retrieved January 6, 2015.
  2. ^ https://www.facebook.com/VolunteerShield [user-generated source]
  3. ^ "Volunteer Shield Foundation". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  4. ^ "Volunteer Shield Foundation". www.facebook.com. Since the two did not meet in the season, the Shield could be decided by the two teams meeting in the playoffs. Knoxville skips the quarterfinal round on the strength of the 1st-place divisional finish. Chattanooga will host Nashville Tuesday night. Should Chattanooga win that match, then Friday's semifinal between Knoxville and Chattanooga would determine the Volunteer Shield. If Chattanooga loses on Tuesday, then Knoxville wins the Volunteer Shield on the strength of their higher PointPerGame average vs. Tennessee teams (1.5 to 1.0).
  5. ^ McElhaney, Tori. "Chattanooga Football Club out of playoffs with 2-1 loss to Inter Nashville [photos]". timesfreepress.com.
  6. ^ "Volunteer Shield Foundation". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
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