By: Sam Carter
STATESBORO, Ga. – South Georgia Tormenta FC defeated SC United Bantams 3-1 on Thursday night from Optim Sports Medicine Field at Tormenta Stadium. Three second-half goals helped the Statesboro side to a come-from-behind victory to claim all three points.
“I thought we started off the game very strong. How many corners did we have in the first 10 to 12 minutes? Six or seven? It’s great to see us out on the front foot. We just couldn’t find the net in the back. They [SC United Bantams] got something weird in the first half. We’ve seen a lot of things this year, and that’s a good one. We talked at halftime that we need to go take the game to them. We need to go get the win, put your head down, and attack. We had a couple other good chances, and I think both of the penalties were the right call.”
Jim Robbins, Head Coach
Kiana Jacobson tested the SC United Bantams’ goalkeeper quickly with two attempts on goal in the opening five minutes of play. Tormenta FC continued to press forward as the first half wore on with Tess Werts and Katie Phee trying their luck on goal. Halfway through the first half, Cora Brendle was called upon to make several saves to keep the score level at zero. On 28 minutes, SC United Bantams found the breakthrough with a first-time finish at the top of the penalty area into the upper-left corner. Peyton Chick and Kaylie Chambers each had an effort on goal in the closing minutes of the first half, but South Georgia went into the break down by a one-goal margin.
Tormenta FC started the second half strongly on front foot. In the 55th minute, Tormenta FC finally found its equalizer. Kiana Jacobson latched onto a loose ball that was mishandled by the SC United Bantams’ goalkeeper and slotted it home. Substitute Elise Holcey kept up the South Georgia momentum in the second half with a hammered shot on goal that couldn’t creep in. In the 73rd minute, the Columbia side was penalized in the box for a handball, and Elis Nemtsov stepped up and picked out the top-right corner to give the home side the lead. In the closing minutes of the match, South Georgia was awarded a second penalty of the match. Sarah Hagg’s effort from the spot was saved, but Taylor Golden put the rebound back into the six-yard box before it deflected in for an own goal. The Statesboro side saw out the remaining stoppage time to secure the win.
“We like to set our own personal goals, and one of them was just to win the next four games. We can leave behind what has happened and almost start new. But just win the next one, and to do that was just awesome.”
Kiana Jacobson, 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
