Since the Atlanta United, Major League Soccer’s newest expansion program, burst onto the scene, the hype surrounding soccer has amplified throughout Georgia.
Savannah soccer fans will get a taste of that hype as two of Atlanta United’s development squads face each other in a friendly at 8 tonight at Daffin Park. One of the newest minor league soccer franchises will face the oldest.
The Tormenta FC, based in Statesboro, is preparing for its second season in the Premier Development League, which officially begins Saturday, and will face the United Soccer League’s Charleston Battery, which was founded in 1993 and is the oldest continuously operating professional soccer club in the Unitede States.
Comparing soccer to the minor league system in baseball, Tormenta FC team president Darin Van Tassell said the PDL would be the equivalent of Single-A that the former Savannah Sand Gnats competed in, while the USL would be Triple-A.
Van Tassell said he is hoping today’s match will become an annual event in Savannah.
“When we formed an affiliation with the Battery, the first thing we wanted to do play a game in Savannah,” he said. “I look forward to playing the fifth annual match against the Battery five years from now. The people of Savannah are in for a real treat.
“This is easily the highest-level soccer team to play in Savannah – at least in recent history and maybe forever.”
High expectations
Tormenta FC went 6-5-3 in its inaugural PDL season in 2016, barely missing the playoffs.
“It says a lot about our franchise and where it’s come in a short period of time for a USL team like Charleston to agree to play us in Savannah,” Van Tassell said.
Tormenta FC has a mix of collegiate and post-graduate players, including two current players on Georgia Southern’s roster – sophomore defender Justin Little and senior midfielder Nick Wells. Head coach John Miglarese, who is in his first season with Tormenta, played at Georgia Southern and is returning to Statesboro after coaching stints at PDL Southern West Virginia King’s Warriors and at UNC-Pembroke.
Since Miglarese returned to Statesboro, he’s been surprised by the support he’s seen from the community. The team drew an average of about 2,000 fans to its home games last year.
“I’ve been pretty blown away by it,” Miglarese said. “There a lot of people who are just pumped. They recognize (the players) in the community. It’s amazing to see how a football town has embraced this minor league soccer team.”
Last season, Tormenta was coached by Ben Freakley, who left to take a job with Major League Baseball’s Toronto Blue Jays. So far, Miglarese is excited about the talent he’s inherited.
“Ben did a great job of getting them on the map,” Miglarese said. “Year 2, our plan is to win it. We want to win the division.”
The players appear to think an Eastern Conference Championship is a real possibility this season.
“I think this year, we have a very good team, so we should make a run for a conference championship,” Tormenta FC defender Reed Norton said. “I think with this year’s team, we have a little more solid foundation of solid players. I think the chemistry is good. When you have good chemistry and a good foundation, you can be pretty dangerous.”
Tormenta FC will officially open its PDL season Saturday against the Mytrle Beach Mutiny.
Playing for Battery a privilege
Before Atlanta United, Charleston Battery was the most prominent club among the Georgia and South Carolina soccer faithful.
“I actually grew up growing to a lot of Charleston Battery games,” said Norton, who played two years at Georgia Southern in 2012 and 2013 before transferring to North Carolina State. “They’re an historic organization.”
Norton, who was born in Statesboro and later moved with his family to Augusta, had his opportunity in February to earn a roster spot with the Battery as he spent four weeks going through the team’s trial period. When he didn’t make it, he rejoined Tormenta FC.
“I enjoyed my time there,” Norton said. “I was a little disappointed with the end result. All you can do is take it in stride and stay motivated for your next opportunity.”
That opportunity might start today, and a good season in Statesboro could keep the door open. Norton is using his friend, Savannah native Nico Rittmeyer, as an example. Rittmeyer, who was the Savannah Morning News Athlete of the Year in 2011 while at Savannah Country Day, worked his way up from playing at Tormenta FC last season to signing with Charleston this spring. He went through the same trial period as Norton. Now Rittmeyer will be playing against his old club for the first time.
Norton said he has been friends with Rittmeyer since they played soccer as kids.
“It’s kind of funny how we ended up crossing paths,” Norton said. “I’m looking forward to seeing him. I spent the majority of my time in Charleston hanging out with him. I’m looking forward to playing against him because he’s a really good player.
“I think he’s a great subject to talk about in Savannah soccer. He’s definitely one of the better players to come out of that area.”
