STATESBORO, Ga. – South Georgia Tormenta FC will kick off its inaugural 2022 USL W League season against SC United Bantams this Saturday, May 14, at 7:30 p.m. ET at Erk Russell Park. Under the helm of Head Coach Jim Robbins, the squad looks to start off its W League journey with a win in front of Tormenta Nation.
Saturday marks the start of Tormenta FC’s introduction to amateur women’s soccer and the first elite women’s soccer team in Statesboro. The team looks to form good relationships throughout the community and build a brand of Tormenta FC football that will create a path to pro process for local female athletes throughout South Georgia.
“We’re just very excited to get started. We’ve been counting down the days ever since May 1 when we arrived. We’re just so grateful to be here and to be part of Tormenta FC. We are ready to continue making history with wins, and we’re ready to win the championship.”
Amy Andrews, Tormenta FC forward
The 2022 Tormenta FC W League roster consists of athletes with ties to South Georgia and the Lowcountry, as well as players hailing from around the United States and the world, both providing an array of experience and the mindset of bringing a trophy home to Statesboro. Head Coach Jim Robbins gathered talent from South Georgia’s backyard, with players coming from Tormenta FC Academy like Sydney Martinez, Lauren and Erin O’Hearn, and Isabela and Helen Gutierrez amongst others.
“It’s exciting, it’s something we’ll be able to tell our kids about down the line,” Tormenta FC midfielder Emily Burke said. “Like we were a part of the Tormenta’s first women’s team. It’s a huge deal and to be a part of such a small community but it means so much to the entire community, even the pro side, everyone is rooting for us here, so it’s really exciting.”
Tormenta FC’s 2022 W League campaign features 12 fixtures with six home matches in Statesboro and six matches to be played on the road.
“We would love to have a large group of people watching us, cheering us on, and just having the support from people will be really cool,” said Tormenta FC midfielder Kelly Giddes commented.
Tormenta FC is set to compete in the USL W League Deep South Division, facing familiar League One and League Two clubs like Chattanooga Red Wolves SC, Peachtree City MOBA, SC United Bantams and Southern Soccer Academy, as well as new opponents like Tennessee Soccer Club.
In June of 2021, Tormenta FC was named a founding member of the USL W League, an elite pre-professional pathway for women looking to build their careers both on and off the pitch. For two decades between 1995 and 2015, the W League saw some of the biggest names past and present in the sport compete on the field, and this new era will build on the legacy of its predecessor. In alignment with the USL League Two season, the W League will kick off in May and end with the W League Playoffs and W League Final in late July.
To stay up to date on Tormenta FC’s new women’s team, fans can follow Tormenta Women on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. To learn more about the USL W League, visit USLWLeague.com or follow the W League on Twitter at @USLWLeague.
