Translated from Spanish, “Tormenta” literally means “storm” in English.
On Wednesday at Calvary Day School’s Specialty Sports Complex, South Georgia Tormenta FC brought a storm of emotion and electricity with them for their United States Premier Development League (USPDL) match with the SC United Bantams.
Based in Statesboro, Tormenta (8-0-1) won 2-1 over their division rivals in a special home game played in Savannah which, despite the rainy conditions throughout, was well attended by the city.
“I don’t think we played our best tonight,” Tormenta coach John Miglarese said following the victory. “I think we were a bit choppy at times but South Carolina is a good team. They are tough and they prevented us from getting in a good rhythm but we’ll take these results.”
Overcoming a 30-minute lightning delay before the match was seemingly easy enough for both sides, but overcoming the physicality it took to win it was unquestionably easier for Tormenta.
Combined, the two teams were whistled for 29 fouls (16 for Tormenta) and the club from Columbia, South Carolina was hit with two yellow cards (17′, 57′) as frustrations mounted.
The USPDL is a 74-team semi-professional soccer league that is split into four conferences throughout the United States and Canada. Those four conferences are split into three divisions each and, after the 14-game regular season schedule concludes, each division winner plays for the conference title with each conference champion advancing to the USPDL championships.
Coming into Wednesday’s match, Tormenta was one of only three undefeated teams remaining in the entire league. Having never made the playoffs in their three-year history, the club is now red-hot, rolling through their Deep South Division (Eastern Conference )
In the first half, Tormenta got on the board in the 12th minute when Callum Chapman-Page converted a loose ball in the box after the Toni Soler corner kick.
It was the second goal of the season for Chapman-Page – the Guernsey, United Kingdom product has now scored on two of his four total shots in 2018. As the score was 1-0 in favor of Tormenta heading into the locker rooms, the feisty SC United (4-4-1) club was doing everything possible to get any advantage it could, be it physical or mental.
The second half saw both teams using their mouths as much as their feet to outduel the other side, but in the 52nd minute Tormenta backed up their talk when Mike Rowe (2) darted to the right post with nifty footwork before rifling his close-range shot to the far left side of the net, giving his club the insurance it would eventually need when United’s Liam Ireland scored on a gorgeous shot from 30 yards out in the 59th minute.
“Right now we’re focused on continuing to get better,” Miglarese said when asked if his club his gaining confidence with an undefeated record, a lengthy win streak and a first place standing to their credit.
“Obviously, we’ll keep doing what we can to continue earning the good result, but it’s too early to look at the standings. The focus has never been on the result, it’s about growth as a group and it always will be (about that).”
Asked if he felt the Savannah market could bring some new fans and a new energy to his relatively unknown team, the coach was emphatic.
“Look this is a good soccer team,” he said, realizing an opportunity to sell his product which has dominated thus far to the Savannah soccer fans. “We play an attractive brand of soccer and we have quality athletes on the field. Savannah is a great community and it has a really intelligent soccer community. There’s no reason why they shouldn’t rally behind us once they see us play. We’d love to have the support (of Savannah).”
Tormenta will play next on Saturday at 8 p.m. when they’ll put their winning streak on the line at home (Erk Russell Park in Statesboro) against the visiting Charlotte Eagles.
Goals – TRM, Callum Chapman-Page; Mike Rowe. SCU – Liam Ireland. Assists – TRM, Toni Soler; Nil Vinyals. Saves – TRM, Pablo Jara 9. SCU, Ian McGrane 7