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Tormenta FC

{{short description|American soccer club in Statesboro, Georgia}}

{{About|the USL men's soccer club|the affiliated women's soccer club|Tormenta FC (W-League)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}

{{Infobox football club

| clubname = Tormenta FC

| image = Tormenta FC logo.svg

| upright = 0.7

| caption =

| fullname = South Georgia Tormenta Football Club

| nickname = Pelicans

| founded = {{start date and age|2015||}}

| dissolved =

| stadium = Tormenta Stadium
Statesboro, Georgia

| capacity = 5,300

| coordinates = {{coord|32.409722|-81.796111|type:landmark_globe:earth_region:US-GA|display=ti}}

| owntitle = Co-owners

| owner = {{ubl|Darin Van Tassell|Netra Van Tassell|Jeff Spencer}}

| chrtitle =

| chairman =

| mgrtitle = Head coach

| manager = Ian Cameron

| league = USL League One

| season = 2024

| position = USL League One, 10th of 12
Playoffs: DNQ

| website = {{URL|http://www.tormentafc.com}}

| kit_alt1 =

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| pattern_b1 = _pumagoal24b

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| pattern_so1 =

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| body1 = 000000

| rightarm1 = 000000

| shorts1 = 000000

| socks1 = 000000

| kit_alt2 =

| pattern_la2 = _pinkborder

| pattern_b2 = _amiens2324h

| pattern_ra2 = _pinkborder

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| current = 2022 Tormenta FC season

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}}

South Georgia Tormenta FC, or simply Tormenta FC, is an American soccer organization based in Statesboro, Georgia, United States. Founded in 2015, the club fields a professional team in USL League One, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, as well as a pre-professional team in USL League Two called Tormenta FC 2 (which is on hiatus since the 2023 season){{Cite web |title=Tormenta FC to Elevate USL Academy Team |url=https://www.tormentafc.com/news/2023/01/05/tormenta-fc-to-elevate-usl-academy-team/ |access-date=2024-01-06 |website=South Georgia Tormenta FC |language=en-US}} and a pre-professional team in USL W League. The team colors are midnight navy, sky blue, silver, and magenta. The team's crest shows an ibis.{{cite web|url=http://uslpdl.com/home/888862.html|title=PDL Awards Franchise to Statesboro, Georgia|publisher=Premier Development League (PDL)|date=August 6, 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.uslpdl.com/home/898346.html|title=Tormenta FC Arrives in South Georgia|publisher=Premier Development League (PDL)|date=October 28, 2015}} Tormenta FC's USL League One team and the W-League team both emerged victorious in 2022, becoming national champions in their respective leagues.

History

South Georgia Tormenta FC was founded in 2015 making it Statesboro's first pro team in any sport in 60 years, since the Statesboro Pilots of baseball's Georgia State League folded in 1955. Owned by Tormenta FC LLC, the operations of the franchise are steered by Darin Van Tassell and Netra Van Tassell. The word "tormenta" means "storm" in Spanish.{{cite web|url=https://www.tormentafc.com/faqs|title=Frequently Asked Questions|website=Tormentafc.com|access-date=February 22, 2019}}

=2016=

On May 21, 2016, Tormenta FC hosted its inaugural home match against the Carolina Dynamo in front of 3,105 fans.{{cite web|url=http://www.tormentafc.com/news_article/show/651560?referrer_id=2300356|title=History in the making for Tormenta|date=23 May 2016|website=Tormentafc.com}}

Tormenta FC won their first match in club history on June 16, 2016 against the Charlotte Eagles in a 2–0 decision.{{cite web|url=http://www.tormentafc.com/news_article/show/661547?referrer_id=2006916|title=Tormenta FC Secures First Win|last=Colin|date=17 June 2016}} The club then followed up that victory with a second consecutive win on June 18, 2016 by defeating the Carolina Dynamo 1–0.{{cite web|url=http://www.tormentafc.com/news_article/show/662257?referrer_id=2006916|title=Tormenta FC moves up in Ranking with Two Consecutive Wins On The Road|date=20 June 2016|website=Tormentafc.com}} On June 23, 2016, Tormenta FC not only scored their first ever home goal, but the team managed to win their first home match as well; a 1–0 victory over Southern West Virginia King's Warriors.{{cite web|url=http://www.statesboroherald.com/section/3/article/74927/|title=Tormenta comes through in the clutch|website=Statesboroherald.com}}

Tormenta had a five-game win streak snapped in a 2–1 defeat against the King's Warriors on July 2, 2016.

The club finished 6th out of 8 in the South Atlantic Division.{{Cite web|url=https://www.uslleaguetwo.com/standings/show/2353458?subseason=278141|title=Standings – 2016 Regular Season – South Georgia Tormenta FC 2|website=www.uslleaguetwo.com|access-date=2020-02-16}}

=2018=

On January 25, 2018, South Georgia Tormenta FC was announced as the first founding member of USL League One for 2019. The team had an undefeated regular season in 2018, clinching the Deep South Division championship. Tormenta FC hosted the conference playoffs in Statesboro, Georgia.{{Cite web|url=http://www.usld3.com/news_article/show/877210?referrer_id=3067499 |title=Tormenta FC joins USL Division III for 2019|date=January 25, 2018|access-date=January 25, 2018}}

= 2019 =

On March 29, 2019, Tormenta FC hosted the inaugural match of USL League One, winning 1–0 against the Greenville Triumph and setting a new attendance record of 3,519.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tormentafc.com/news_article/show/1008446-post-game-notes-march-29-vs-greenville-triumph-sc|title=Post-Game Notes: March 29 vs Greenville Triumph SC|last=O'Donnell|first=Bernadette|date=2019-03-30|website=South Georgia Tormenta FC|language=en-us|access-date=2020-02-16}} After a successful start to the season that saw the team in second place, a second-half downturn with 2 wins in their last 16 matches brought them down to 6th place and out of a playoff spot.

= 2020 =

On September 16, 2020, Tormenta announced that it had promoted John Miglarese to Technical Director, and promote previous assistant coach and head coach of Tormenta 2, Ian Cameron, to head coach of the first team.{{Cite web|date=2020-09-16|title=Tormenta FC Names Ian Cameron as USL League One Head Coach|url=https://www.tormentafc.com/news_article/show/1123035-tormenta-fc-names-ian-cameron-as-usl-league-one-head-coach|access-date=2020-09-19|website=South Georgia Tormenta FC|language=en-us}}

= 2021 =

On June 8, 2021, Tormenta announced they will be fielding a women's side to compete in the new USL W League beginning in 2022.{{cite web |title=USL announces return of the W League from 2022 – SportsPro Media |url=https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/usl-w-league-2022-inaugural-season-founding-clubs |website=www.sportspromedia.com |date=9 June 2021 |access-date=15 June 2021}}

= 2022 =

In the off season, the club signed former Tottenham Hotspur F.C. and English youth international player Kazaiah Sterling.{{Cite web|url=https://www.uslleagueone.com/news_article/show/1212170|title=Tormenta FC Sign Former Tottenham Hotspur Forward Kazaiah Sterling|website=uslleagueone.com|date=28 February 2022}}

The club finished the season in third place, qualifying for the first round of the USL League One playoffs. In the club's first ever playoff appearance, they defeated sixth seeded Charlotte Independence and then second seeded Greenville Triumph before winning the final match against Chattanooga Red Wolves SC by the score of 2–1.{{Cite web|url=https://www.uslleagueone.com/southgeorgiatormentafc-charlotteindependence-2333752|title=USL League One Match Report|website=uslleagueone.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.uslleagueone.com/greenvilletriumphsc-southgeorgiatormentasc-2334410|title=USL League One Match Report|website=uslleagueone.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.statesboroherald.com/local/champions-tormenta-rules-league-one/|title=Champions – Tormenta rules League One|website=stateborohearald.com|date=7 November 2022|access-date=20 December 2022}}

Stadium

Tormenta FC currently plays at Tormenta Stadium, a 5,300-seat soccer-specific stadium in Statesboro.{{Cite web|url=https://www.statesboroherald.com/local/tormenta-stadium-break-ground-march-27/|title=Tormenta Stadium to break ground March 27|website=Statesboroherald.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.wtoc.com/2019/10/24/tormenta-fc-owners-give-update-new-stadium-retail-shops/|title = Tormenta FC owners give update on new stadium, retail shops| date=24 October 2019 }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.tormentafc.com/news_article/show/1142933|title=Optim Health System Claims Naming Rights for Tormenta FC Field|date=2 February 2021}} They previously played at Eagle Field at Erk Russell Park on the campus of Georgia Southern University from 2016 to most of the 2022 season.

Sponsorship

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
style="background:#0F1D41; color:white; border:2px solid #FF00FF;;" scope="col"|Period

! style="background:#0F1D41; color:white; border:2px solid #FF00FF;;" scope="col"|Kit manufacturer

! style="background:#0F1D41; color:white; border:2px solid #FF00FF;;" scope="col"|Shirt sponsor

2016–2018

| {{flagicon|USA}} Nike

|rowspan="3"| Optim Orthopedics

2019–2023

| {{flagicon|GER}} Adidas

2024–present

|{{flagicon|GER}} Puma{{cite web | url=https://www.tormentafc.com/news/2024/01/05/south-georgia-tormenta-fc-puma-announce-multiyear-partnership/ | title=South Georgia Tormenta FC, PUMA Announce Multiyear Partnership }}

Record

=Year-by-year=

{{updated|October 26, 2024}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"

! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Season

! colspan=8 class="unsortable" |Premier Development League

! scope="col" rowspan="2" class="unsortable" | Playoffs

! scope="col" rowspan="2" class="unsortable" | US Open Cup

! scope="col" colspan="2" class="unsortable" | Top Scorer {{ref|1|1}}

! scope="col" rowspan="2" class="unsortable" | Head Coach

{{tooltip|P|Games played}}

!{{tooltip|W|Games won}}

!{{tooltip|L|Games lost}}

!{{tooltip|D|Games drawn}}

!{{tooltip|GF|Goals for}}

!{{tooltip|GA|Goals against}}

!{{tooltip|Pts|Points}}

!{{tooltip|Pos|Position}}

! class="unsortable" | Player

! class="unsortable" | Goals

2016

|14

|6

|5

|3

|22

|18

|21

|5th, South Atlantic

|Did not qualify

|Ineligible

|{{flagicon|ENG}} Sam Lofts

|4

|{{flagicon|USA}} Ben Freakley

2017

|14

|7

|3

|4

|34

|17

|25

|4th, South Atlantic

|Did not qualify

|DNQ

|{{flagicon|USA}} Jamie Merriam

|9

|{{flagicon|USA}} John Miglarese

2018

|14

|11

|0

|3

|30

|10

|36

|bgcolor="#b3b7ff"|1st, Deep South

|Conference Semifinals

|2R

|{{flagicon|ITA}} Marco Micaletto

|4

|{{flagicon|USA}} John Miglarese

scope="col" rowspan="2" | Season

! colspan=8 class="unsortable" |USL League One

! scope="col" rowspan="2" class="unsortable" | Playoffs

! scope="col" rowspan="2" class="unsortable" | US Open Cup

! scope="col" colspan="2" class="unsortable" | Top Scorer {{ref|1|1}}

! scope="col" rowspan="2" class="unsortable" | Head Coach

{{tooltip|P|Games played}}

!{{tooltip|W|Games won}}

!{{tooltip|L|Games lost}}

!{{tooltip|D|Games drawn}}

!{{tooltip|GF|Goals for}}

!{{tooltip|GA|Goals against}}

!{{tooltip|Pts|Points}}

!{{tooltip|Pos|Position}}

! class="unsortable" | Player

! class="unsortable" | Goals

2019

|28

|9

|10

|9

|32

|34

|37

|6th

|Did not qualify

|2R

|{{flagicon|ITA}} Marco Micaletto

|8

|{{flagicon|USA}} John Miglarese

2020

|16

|5

|7

|4

|19

|22

|19

|8th

|Did not qualify

|Not held

|{{flagicon|ESP}} Nil Vinyals

|4

|{{flagicon|USA}} John Miglarese (2–4–4)
{{flagicon|SCO}} Ian Cameron (3–3–0)

2021

|28

|8

|14

|6

|36

|47

|30

|11th

|Did not qualify

|Not Held

|{{flagicon|ITA}} Marco Micaletto

|11

|{{flagicon|SCO}} Ian Cameron

2022

|30

|12

|9

|9

|42

|40

|45

|3rd

|bgcolor=gold|Champions

|4R

|{{flagicon|ENG}} Kazaiah Sterling

|13

|{{flagicon|SCO}} Ian Cameron

2023

|32

|12

|14

|6

|55

|56

|42

|7th

|Did not qualify

|3R

|{{flagicon|ENG}} Kazaiah Sterling

|13

|{{flagicon|SCO}} Ian Cameron

2024

|22

|4

|10

|8

|33

|42

|20

|10th

|Did not qualify

|3R

|{{flagicon|ARG}} Sebastián Vivas

|8

|{{flagicon|SCO}} Ian Cameron

{{note|1}}1. Top Scorer includes statistics from league matches only.

=Head coaches=

{{updated|October 14, 2022}}

  • Includes Regular Season, Playoffs & U.S. Open Cup. Excludes friendlies.

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; margin-left: lem;"

! Coach !! Nationality !! Start !! End !! {{tooltip|G|Games}} !! {{tooltip|W|Wins}} !! {{tooltip|L|Losses}} !! {{tooltip|D|Draws}} !! {{tooltip|GF|Goals for}} !! {{tooltip|GA|Goals Against}} !! {{tooltip|Win %|Winning percentage}}

Ben Freakley

| {{USA}}

| 2016

| {{dts|format=mdy|2017|January|11}}

{{WDL|14|6|5|3|for=22|against=18}}

John Miglarese

| {{USA}}

| {{dts|format=mdy|2017|January|11}}

| {{dts|format=mdy|2020|September|18}}

{{WDL|70|30|19|21|for=109|against=80}}

Ian Cameron

| {{SCO}}

| {{dts|format=mdy|2020|September|18}}

| present

{{WDL|104|41|42|21|for=156|against=159}}

Players and staff

=Current roster=

{{updated|April 4, 2025|{{Cite web|url=https://www.tormentafc.com/2021roster|title=2021 USL League One Roster|website=tormentafc.com |publisher=Tormenta FC|accessdate=August 28, 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.uslleagueone.com/south-georgia-tormenta-fc-roster|title=South Georgia Tormenta FC Roster|publisher=USL League One|website=USLLeagueOne.com|accessdate=August 28, 2021}}}}

{{fs start|nonumber=|bg=0F1D41|color=FFFFFF|border=FF00FF}}

{{Fs player|no=1|nat=USA|name=Austin Pack|pos=GK}}

{{Fs player|no=3|nat=BRA|name=Gabriel Alves|pos=MF}}

{{Fs player|no=4|nat=USA|name=Thabo Nare|pos=DF}}

{{Fs player|no=5|nat=MDA|name=Anatolie Prepeliță|pos=DF}}

{{Fs player|no=6|nat=PUR|name=Callum Stretch|pos=DF}}

{{Fs player|no=7|nat=BRB|name=Niall Reid-Stephen|pos=MF}}

{{Fs player|no=8|nat=BRA|name=Gabriel Cabral|pos=MF}}

{{Fs player|no=9|nat=ARG|name=Sebastian Vivas|pos=FW}}

{{Fs player|no=10|nat=USA|name=Taylor Gray|pos=FW}}

{{Fs player|no=11|nat=USA|name=Jonathan Nyandjo|pos=FW}}

{{Fs player|no=13|nat=USA|name=Sam Jones|pos=GK}}

{{Fs player|no=14|nat=ISR|name=Alon Drey|pos=MF}}

{{fs mid|nonumber=|bg=0F1D41|color=FFFFFF|border=FF00FF}}

{{Fs player|no=16|nat=ENG|name=Mason Tunbridge|pos=MF}}

{{Fs player|no=18|nat=USA|name=Dodge Brooks|pos=MF|other={{Cref2|A|name=1|1}}}}

{{Fs player|no=19|nat=ISR|name=Yaniv Bazini|pos=FW}}

{{Fs player|no=26|nat=TAN|name=Jackson Kasanzu|pos=DF}}

{{Fs player|no=28|nat=USA|name=Aaron Walker|pos=MF}}

{{Fs player|no=29|nat=USA|name=Shafer Gottlieb|pos=DF|other={{Cref2|A|name=1|1}}}}

{{Fs player|no=30|nat=USA|name=Conor Doyle|pos=MF}}

{{Fs player|no=31|nat=USA|name=Liam Healy|pos=MF|other={{Cref2|A|name=1|1}}}}

{{Fs player|no=33|nat=USA|name=Joseph Perez|pos=DF}}

{{Fs player|no=58|nat=USA|name=Oscar Jimenez|pos=DF}}

{{Fs player|no=71|nat=SOM|name=Handwalla Bwana|pos=MF}}

{{Fs player|no=72|nat=USA|name=Finnley O'Brien|pos=DF}}

{{fs end|nonumber=|bg=0F1D41|color=FFFFFF|border=FF00FF}}

{{Cnote2 Begin}}

{{Cnote2|A|group=1|n=1|USL Academy Contract}}

{{Cnote2 End}}

=Technical staff=

{{updated|June 15, 2021|{{Cite web|url=https://www.tormentafc.com/technicalstaff|title=Technical Staff|website=Tormentafc.com}}}}

  • {{flagicon|SCO}} Ian Cameron – Head Coach
  • {{flagicon|SCO}} Jordan Bell – Assistant & Goalkeeping Coach

=Front office=

{{updated|February 6, 2024|{{Cite web|url=https://www.tormentafc.com/staff|title=Front Office|website=Tormentafc.com}}}}

  • {{flagicon|USA}} Tom Valcke – Senior Director, Franchise Development
  • {{flagicon|USA}} Michael Blackmon – VP, The Tormenta Group
  • {{flagicon|USA}} John Schlieman – Senior VP, Corporate Partnerships
  • {{flagicon|USA}} Colt Carver – Senior Director, Soccer Operations
  • {{flagicon|USA}} Camryn Brooks – Coordinator, Soccer Operations
  • {{flagicon|USA}} Loren Kersey – Coordinator, Soccer Operations
  • {{flagicon|USA}} Colby Beard – Coordinator, Ticket Sales and Service
  • {{flagicon|USA}} Sally Scott – Senior Director, Ticketing and Fan Engagement
  • {{flagicon|USA}} Johnnie Sanchez – Coordinator, Academy Recruitment
  • {{flagicon|USA}} Joleen Tomlinson – Team Chef
  • {{flagicon|USA}} Reggie Hodges – Supervisor, Grounds
  • {{flagicon|USA}} Donald Roberts – Director, Facilities
  • {{flagicon|USA}} Khristina Harper – Director of Accounting
  • {{flagicon|USA}} Lindsay Paquette – Executive Staff
  • {{flagicon|USA}} Lisa Lee – Executive Staff
  • {{flagicon|USA}} Brad Nein – VP, Tormenta FC Academy

Tormenta FC 2

{{Main|Tormenta FC 2}}

In January 2019, the team announced that it would continue to field a team in USL League Two while also playing professionally in USL League One.{{cite web |last1=O'Donnell |first1=Bernadette |title=Tormenta FC Announces Rebrand of its USL League Two Team |url=https://www.tormentafc.com/news_article/show/987720 |website=South Georgia Tormenta FC |access-date=30 January 2020 |language=en-us |date=23 January 2019}} The team, Tormenta FC 2, continues to play in the Deep South Division and has won the conference once in 2019. During its inaugural season, the team won the Southern Conference for the first time in organization history.{{cite web |last1=Zimmer |first1=Amy |title=Historic season for Tormenta FC 2 comes to an end |url=https://www.wjcl.com/article/historic-season-for-tormenta-fc-2-comes-to-an-end/28540744 |website=WJCL |access-date=30 January 2020 |language=en |date=29 July 2019}}

The 2 team has also qualified for two U.S. Open Cup tournaments in 2019 and 2020, with the latter being cancelled and the tournament spot being transferred to 2021.{{cite web |last1=Popkin |first1=Jackson |title=A South Georgia Tormenta FC Guide to the 2019 U.S. Open Cup First Round |url=https://www.dirtysouthsoccer.com/2019/5/8/18534947/a-south-georgia-tormenta-fc-guide-to-the-2019-u-s-open-cup-first-round |website=Dirty South Soccer |access-date=30 January 2020 |language=en |date=8 May 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Sullivan |first1=Tim |title=2019 US Open Cup round 2: Nashville SC holds off pesky South Georgia Tormenta 2 |url=https://thecup.us/2019/05/15/2019-us-open-cup-round-2-nashville-sc-holds-off-pesky-south-georgia-tormenta-2/ |website=TheCup.us |date=15 May 2019 |access-date=30 January 2020}}

The club announced in January 2022 that Tormenta 2 would take a one-year hiatus from USL League Two in order for the club to focus on developing its academy.

Honors

= Player honors =

class="wikitable"

!Year

!Pos

!Player

!Country

!Honor

colspan=5|USL Premier Development League
2016

|D

|Peyton Ericson

|{{flag|USA}}

|All-Eastern Conference Team

rowspan=2|2018

|M

|Marco Micaletto

|{{flag|ITA}}

|All-League Team
All-Southern Conference Team

M

|Toni Soler

|{{flag|ESP}}

|All-Southern Conference Team

colspan=5|USL League One
rowspan=2|2019

|D

|Conner Antley

|{{flag|USA}}

|Defender of the Year
All-League First Team

D

|Mikie Rowe

|{{flag|IRE}}

|Goal of the Year

2020

|M

|Marco Micaletto

|{{flag|ITA}}

|All-League Second Team

2021

|M

|Marco Micaletto

|{{flag|ITA}}

|All-League First Team

rowspan=4|2022

|M

|Adrian Billhardt

|{{flag|GER}}

|Comeback Player of the Year

D

|Jake Dengler

|{{flag|USA}}

|All-League Second Team

M

|Gabriel Cabral

|{{flag|BRA}}

|All-League Second Team

F

|Kazaiah Sterling

|{{flag|ENG}}

|All-League Second Team

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • {{official website|http://www.tormentafc.com}}

{{Tormenta FC}}

{{USL League One}}

{{USL League Two}}

{{Georgia Sports}}

Category:Association football clubs established in 2015

Category:USL League Two teams

Category:Soccer clubs in Georgia (U.S. state)

Category:2015 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state)

Category:USL League One teams

Category:Statesboro, Georgia