STATESBORO, Ga. – South Georgia Tormenta FC has announced goalkeeper Sydney Martinez to its inaugural USL W League roster, pending league and federation approval. A native of Rincon, Georgia, Martinez is a TFC Academy product and returns to South Georiga with NCAA Division I experience and leadership from the University of South Florida.
“Martinez is a highly decorated and experienced goalkeeper who has proven herself at the highest levels of the women’s game,” Tormenta FC W League Head Coach Jim Robbins said. “She is a great shot-stopper and can build the attack from the back. She’s also a respected leader and role model with experience from our own Academy.
“Sydney will be the cornerstone that we build our team around this summer and will be critical to achieving our goals in 2022. I am confident she will continue her career in the NWSL after graduation.”
Martinez made an immediate impact at South Florida and has served as the program’s starting goalkeeper for four seasons. In 2021, the South Georgia native recorded eight shutouts, her highest tally in a single season, and led the USF Bulls to the American Athletic Conference Championship Final. Martinez helped her team win the AAC Tournament in both 2019 and 2020 and was named to All-American Second Team twice
The goal-stopper excelled with Tormenta FC Academy’s U12 to U15 teams from 2012-2015. Martinez represents Tormenta FC’s goal to create opportunities for local talents to develop and grow close to home with the goal of playing professionally in the future.
“I’m grateful to have the opportunity to train and play with Tormenta FC during its inaugural season,” Martinez commented. “Being from the area, I’ve seen the culture of this club from the beginning, and I can’t wait to see this carried to the women’s program this summer.”
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. In alignment with the USL League Two season, the W League will kick off in May and end with the W League Playoffs and W League Final in late July.
To stay up to date on Tormenta FC’s new women’s team, fans can follow Tormenta Women on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. To learn more about the USL W League, visit USLWLeague.com or follow the W League on Twitter at @USLWLeague.
For additional information and scheduling interviews, email: bodonnell@https://sportsengine-staging.go-vip.net/tormentafc.
