By: Sam Carter
STATESBORO, Ga. – A late equalizer from substitute Alaysia Lane rescued a point for South Georgia Tormenta FC on the road in a 1-1 draw with Birmingham Legion WFC. Lane’s goal is her first in a South Georgia shirt and the latest score for the team this season.
“It was a tough game. The conditions were tough, but the field was excellent. It’s hot, it’s humid – both teams were affected by the weather conditions. Both teams did a really good job of grinding it out. We give our girls credit because we didn’t stop. We had a nice goal late in the game and a couple chances to steal one back from them near the 91st minute. It just didn’t work out our way today, but I’m proud of the way the girls played the second half.”
Jim Robbins, Head Coach
South Georgia weathered two early chances for the Legion in the opening eight minutes of the match with Roisin McGovern and Keara Fitzgerald being called into play. Kaylie Chambers sparked to action midway through the first half, utilizing her creative link-up play to force two tough saves out of the Birmingham goalkeeper. Birmingham took the lead on 31 minutes played following quick combination play outside the penalty box before slotting the shot past Fitzgerald. South Georgia applied offensive pressure late in the half in search of an equalizer, but the two sides entered the halftime break with the score 1-0 in favor of the home side.
Robbins made a flurry of substitutions to freshen the 11 for Tormenta FC in the opening 15 minutes of the second half. South Georgia’s backline continued to repel chances from the Alabama side as the team searched for the equalizer. The two sides battled for possession deep into the end of regulation time in search of the next goal. On 88 minutes, Alaysia Lane picked up possession of the ball just outside the penalty box, touched beyond her defender, and fired a low shot into the left corner to level the score 1-1. Sarah Hagg and Abby Gemza both had late attempts on goal, but the two sides settled with a point each.
“It was really good buildup through the midfield starting from the back. We had a couple good passes, and then when Emma [Tucker], our right back, made a great dribble inside the midfield to the 18 [yard-box], I just saw the space wide open for me. I called for the ball, she made a fantastic pass, and I just had to touch it and put it in the net. ”
Alaysia Lane, Defender/Forward
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. Tormenta FC won its first-ever USL W League title in 2022 after defeating the Minnesota Aurora in front of 6,500 fans in Eagan, Minnesota.
Tormenta FC provides opportunities to local and national players to develop and start their professional careers in Statesboro, Georgia. In just one year, Tormenta FC’s USL W League team has produced six professional players with Sydney Martinez joining Jenae Packard, Emily Burke, Kelly Giddes, Abigail Wolf and Jodi Medina as the latest player to sign a contract in Europe.
For additional information and scheduling interviews, email: epintor@tormentafc.com
