By: Sam Carter
STATESBORO, Ga. – Three second half finishes propelled South Georgia Tormenta FC to a comprehensive 3-0 over North Alabama SC on Sunday night at Optim Sports Medicine Field at Tormenta Stadium. The Statesboro side now holds a 1-0-0 advantage in the all-time series record between the two USL W League clubs.
“We played well. We played the way we expect to play. We struggled to find a way to get to goal in the first half, and we made a couple adjustment, changed a couple things at halftime. We got better mobility, better combinations, better energy going forward in the second half and created some good goals.”
Jim Robbins, Head Coach
“We played well,” said Head Coach Jim Robbins. “We played the way we expect to play. We struggled to find a way to get to goal in the first half, and we made a couple adjustment, changed a couple things at halftime. We got better mobility, better combinations, better energy going forward in the second half and created some good goals.”
South Georgia started the match with fast and intense play, deploying several attacks down the flanks of the North Alabama defense. Alyssa Abbondandolo forced the first save out of the Alabama side, volleying a cross from Peyton Chick on frame in the fifth minute. In her second start of the season, Katie Phee found consistent success serving crosses into the threatening areas in North Alabama’s penalty box. Elis Nemtsov and Celine Ottah provided creativity in advanced positions throughout the first half, and the pair combined for several shots outside the penalty area. After a possession-heavy first half, the two sides entered the break tied 0-0.
Tormenta FC opened the second half again on the front foot. South Georgia found the breakthrough after 55 minutes of play through Emma Tucker, who finished past the North Alabama goalkeeper after being played behind the visitors’ defense by Anika Elias. Minutes later, Gemma Jefferson intercepted a pass in North Alabama’s half, touched beyond her defender and fired a low shot that rocketed into the left corner of the goal. South Georgia continued to hold possession of the ball as the second half wore on, finding the third goal of the match through Nemtsov, who tucked away a cross from Chick in the 80th minute. Tormenta FC saw out the match through confident defensive play and earned all three points.
“It felt great to get the goal. Just to get the momentum going coming off the bench. The team really, I felt tonight, was connected, and really working around the field side to side. I think that’s where our success came from.”
Emma Tucker, Fullback
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
