Nashville SC 2020 Report Card: Dan Lovitz

We’re continuing our Nashville SC report cards with a look at Dan Lovitz.

Position: Left-back
Matches played: 24
Minutes played: 2,453
Goals: 1
Assists: 2
Goals added: 0.87 (8th among MLS fullbacks)
xPass Score: 5.98 (51st among MLS fullbacks)
Average Speedway Soccer rating: 7.3
Average WhoScored rating: 7.0

What went right in 2020?

Acquired from Montreal for $100k in allocation money, Lovitz joined Nashville fresh off international experience – in fact, he played for the US Men’s National Team just hours after the move to Nashville was finalized.

In 2020, Lovitz was one of the best left-backs in MLS. A consistent attacking threat down the left flank, Lovitz was one of the league’s best crossers, completing 1.9 crosses per match (New England’s Alexander Büttner was the only fullback to complete more).

Lovitz was consistently available as well, playing in all but two matches (one missed due to yellow card suspension, the other for a rest). While right-back took a while for Nashville to sort out, Lovitz locked down the left from day one, a vital part of Nashville’s elite defense.

What went wrong in 2020?

It’s getting repetitive, but as with most Nashville SC defenders who saw significant playing time, not much went wrong.

If you want to nitpick, Lovitz had a bad miss against Miami that would have secured three points for Nashville.

On the whole, though, a single moment (and not an egregious one at that) doesn’t detract anything from an exceptional season from Lovitz, who’s probably unfortunate not to be involved in the USMNT’s January camp after his 2020 performance.

What needs to improve in 2021?

A repetition of 2020 would be a success. At 29, Lovitz is an iron man, and should be able to play nearly every match once again. With left-back a consistent issue for the USMNT, Lovitz may be able to leverage his club form into a national team call-up.

Most memorable moment

Lovitz scored one of Nashville’s best goals of 2020, smashing a rocket from outside the box with his “weaker” right foot.

2020 Grade: A

Author: Ben Wrightis the Director of Soccer Content and a Senior MLS Contributor for Broadway Sports covering Nashville SC and the US National Team. Previously Ben was the editor and a founder of Speedway Soccer, where he has covered Nashville SC and their time in USL before journeying to Major League Soccer since 2018. Raised in Louisville, KY Ben grew up playing before a knee injury ended his competitive career. When he is not talking soccer he is probably producing music, drinking coffee or hanging out with his wife and kids. Mastodon

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