STATESBORO, Ga. —South Georgia Tormenta FC opened its 2024 USL League One preseason campaign with a 0-1 defeat against Mercer University Men’s Soccer on Saturday afternoon at Tormenta Stadium.
Several players made their debut for South Georgia Tormenta FC Friday night. As Ian Cameron’s first team squad began to build chemistry for the 2024 campaign, it was also an opportunity for seven trialists to compete. The two sides played a defensively tight match outside of a penalty that the Bears scored in the fourteenth minute.
The first period saw returners Preston Kilwien and Nick Akoto joined by goalkeeper Ford Parker, Callum Stretch, and a trialist. The midfield trio included returning midfielder Pedro Fonseca, joined by newcomers Daniel Steedman and Tavio D’Almeida. Jackson Khoury started on the wing for South Georgia, with Niall Watson on the opposite side. Tormenta FC returnee Gabriel Rodriguez led the line for the first period and half of the second 25-minute period.
At the 39-minute mark, Drew Romig, Collin Mocyunas, and Joshua Ramos joined the South Georgia defense. During the same substitution break, Argentinian striker Sebastian Vivas made his first appearance for the club, coming on for Rodriguez while a trialist came on for Niall Watson.
Tormenta FC’s best chance of the night came with the final kick of the second period when Pedro Fonseca’s shot skipped over the crossbar, going out for a goal kick.
The final group of substitutions for Tormenta FC came at the beginning of the last 25-minute period. Austin Wehner substituted for Khoury, and five trialists also made an appearance for South Georgia, ending the nights of Stretch, Kilwien, Steedman, D’Almeida, and Fonseca.
Tormenta FC returns to action on Friday, February 16, as they face Chattanooga FC to kick off the Huntsville City FC Blastoff Battle. South Georgia will also play Huntsville City FC before returning to Statesboro for their final two preseason matches.
