By: Sam Carter
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – South Georgia Tormenta FC toppled the division leaders 1-0 on Friday night at CHI Memorial Stadium in the last match of the USL W League season. With the result, Tormenta FC secured its fourth consecutive win to improve to 6-3-3 (WLD) in the division on 21 points.
The Utah State duo of Tess Werts and Kaylie Chambers orchestrated the first opportunity of the night for Tormenta. Werts played a beautiful ball into the danger area for Chambers, but a quick reactionary save from Chattanooga’s goalkeeper denied South Georgia of the opener. In the 17th minute, Keara Fitzgerald made a crucial save from a long-distance shot to keep the score level. A minute later, Chambers capitalized on a loose ball from a free kick and slotted the Statesboro side in front, 1-0. The defensive partnership between Jhenesis Ellerbe and Roisin McGovern helped to preserve the goal advantage. Tormenta FC went into the halftime break with the lead.
Halftime substitute Cora Brendle made a strong save to push a Chattanooga effort over the bar to start the second period. In the opening 15 minutes of the half, the Tennessee outfit tested the Tormenta backline, but South Georgia did not allow a breakthrough. The two sides continued to battle back and forth in search of the second goal of the match. Sade Heinrichs blasted a freekick just over the Chattanooga goal late in the match. South Georgia remained resilient across the backline in the closing minutes to secure the final three points of the season.
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
