Charleston, SC – April 20, 2024 – Tormenta FC 15B IBIS II GA fell 5-1 to one of the host teams, James Island 2015B Red Cepeda, in Saturday’s opening day action at the Charleston Spring Classic, being played at the James Island Main Complex. Over 150 teams from South Carolina’s surrounding states signed up for the season finale. In their afternoon game, played in sizzling 88-degree weather, the 8U squad team took it on the chin, losing 10-2 to a taller and stronger James Island 2015B Red Kifer squad. They will play in the Consolation Match on Sunday morning at 11:30 a.m. against FC Charleston 2015B Navy 2.
“This weekend won’t be measured by wins and losses, as it is the boys’ first ever trip where the players and families traveled and stayed in hotels, while immersing themselves among 150 teams, a pretty daunting experience for eigh-year-olds,” said head coach Brad Nein. “In both games, we played better second halves, which was encouraging. I think the big, beautiful complex and large crowds caught their attention early in each game, but then they settled in.”
In game one, the Red Cepeda opponents scored a pair of goals right out of the gate, but Tormenta FC settled down and almost cut the lead in half when Asher Patterson made a terrific steal that created a breakaway but was stymied by a great save from the opposing keeper. Beck Stroud displayed amazing sportsmanship when he kicked a ball, but his follow-through injured the defender’s shin. Stroud stopped his pursuit of the ball, asked the player if they were okay, and offered to help them up. Keeper Khalil Palacios Satterlee made an excellent chest save and dove on top of the rebound to squash Red Cepeda’s opportunity.
After the opposition took a 3-0 lead, Guyton’s Christian Jones, whose backyard has been set up for soccer since he was four years old, took a hard shot from the right side, making the keeper fall while making the save, and Wilmington Island’s Henry Jesse, who chose this soccer tournament this weekend over his baseball team’s tournament, ripped the rebound into the yawning cage for Tormenta’s lone goal in the contest.
Satterlee made ten legitimate saves in the second half, with his best being a high leap and grab near the end. Sean Huang’s aggressive forechecking prevented Red Cepeda from penetrating. Huang also made a great goal attempt toward the top right corner, but the opposing keeper swatted it away. Langston Johnson hustled back on defense throughout the second half as well.
Game 2 in the sweaty afternoon proved to be twice the ratio of the morning’s result, as Red Kifer poured in eight goals in the first half. They had a pair of players who were simply exceptional and seemed unstoppable. However, the team effort led Tormenta FC to tie the second half, with each team scoring a pair. Huang never hesitated to mix it up with the physically imposing opponents, and Patterson was also very committed to a strong defensive second half. Johnson raced back to thwart a two-man rush and blocked a point-blank shot that might have gone in. Offensively, with a congested group in front of the net, Patterson set up Steven Zabo for a super goal. Shortly after, Cole Collins set up Huang perfectly for a top shelfer from the arc.
“We learned how important it is to come out of the gate stronger than we showed, and this gave us a chance to size up what the opposition from other states can bring to the table,” added Nein. “We found a better rhythm in the progression of both games and showed them that we are capable of playing with teams of that caliber.”
Nein also noticed Kaleb Leake’s improvement and praised his older brother, Karson Leake, who not only came as a spectator but has been helping coach the two 8U and 9U boys’ Tormenta Ibis teams throughout the season despite practicing with his own team four times per week. The center defensive midfielder for Tormenta FC’s MLS Next program helped with coaching and offered encouragement throughout the day. The Leake family lives in Savannah and believes strongly in the Tormenta program.
Founded in 2015, Tormenta FC is a professional soccer club based in Statesboro, Georgia. Tormenta FC competes in the professional USL League One and the pre-professional USL W League, under the United Soccer League (USL), and has also established a thriving academy system throughout South Georgia and the Lowcountry of South Carolina.
For media inquiries, please contact Caroline Boykin at cboykin@tormentafc.com and 912-667-9422 or Noah Schroyer at nschroyer@tormentafc.com and 770-871-8654.
