USL W League News

STATESBORO, Ga. – Tormenta FC’s first USL W League signing, Elise Holcey, was named the Athlete of the Week by WSAV News on Wednesday. The feature showcases Holcey as she continues to elevate the bar for future generations of women athletes in South Georgia and the Lowcountry of South Carolina.

The 17-year-old TFC Academy talent was announced in November as the first player in the new USL W League.

WSAV News first introduced its Athlete of the Week segment in Jan. 2021.

“Sports Director Andrew Goldstein brought the idea to shine a light on athletes that may not get the spotlight that a lot of our area football players do in the fall,” WSAV Sports Reporter/Anchor Connor Delprete said. “The plan is to make it a year-round segment and continue to highlight our area athletes for the great things they do on and off the field.”

The Savannah native joined TFC Academy in 2019, and coaches quickly noticed her potential and commitment to make herself and those around her better every day. This season, Holcey was named captain of the 2003/04 Girls Ibis team while playing up a year in age. She led her team to a second-place finish in the National League Piedmont Conference. Holcey also earned a spot on Tormenta FC’s USL Academy Girls roster and competed in the 2021 USL Academy Cup in Tampa, Florida.

STATESBORO, Ga. – Tormenta FC’s first USL W League signing, Elise Holcey, was named the Athlete of the Week by WSAV News on Wednesday. The feature showcases Holcey as she continues to elevate the bar for future generations of women athletes in South Georgia and the Lowcountry of South Carolina.

The 17-year-old TFC Academy talent was announced in November as the first player in the new USL W League.

WSAV News first introduced its Athlete of the Week segment in Jan. 2021.

“Sports Director Andrew Goldstein brought the idea to shine a light on athletes that may not get the spotlight that a lot of our area football players do in the fall,” WSAV Sports Reporter/Anchor Connor Delprete said. “The plan is to make it a year-round segment and continue to highlight our area athletes for the great things they do on and off the field.”

The Savannah native joined TFC Academy in 2019, and coaches quickly noticed her potential and commitment to make herself and those around her better every day. This season, Holcey was named captain of the 2003/04 Girls Ibis team while playing up a year in age. She led her team to a second-place finish in the National League Piedmont Conference. Holcey also earned a spot on Tormenta FC’s USL Academy Girls roster and competed in the 2021 USL Academy Cup in Tampa, Florida.

We want to do well on the field, but it’s also about the culture,” Tormenta Women Head Coach Jim Robbins said. “It’s about having the right players and it’s also about having players who are good ambassadors for the game and want to give back. For me, Elise checks all the boxes and then some.

“We are looking at it as, yes, she can help us today and in 2022, but I also think she’s going to be an important piece for us in the next couple of years which is fantastic.”

Holcey has not yet committed to playing college soccer but has dreams of playing on the United States Women’s National Team and believes the USL W League is her next step on the way to this goal.

In June of 2021, Tormenta FC was named one of eight founding members of the USL W League, an elite pre-professional pathway for women looking to build their careers both on and off the pitch. For two decades between 1995 and 2015, the W League saw some of the biggest names past and present in the sport compete on the field, and this new era will build on the legacy of its predecessor. 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.

Tormenta Women will host its first open trial on Sunday, Dec. 12, at the Tormenta FC Training Grounds at The Clubhouse in Statesboro, Georgia (REGISTER HERE). Fans should stay tuned for information on additional open trials and upcoming announcements, such as official team branding, kits, player announcements and much more. 

For more information and to stay up to date on the latest about 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.

We want to do well on the field, but it’s also about the culture,” Tormenta Women Head Coach Jim Robbins said. “It’s about having the right players and it’s also about having players who are good ambassadors for the game and want to give back. For me, Elise checks all the boxes and then some.

“We are looking at it as, yes, she can help us today and in 2022, but I also think she’s going to be an important piece for us in the next couple of years which is fantastic.”

Holcey has not yet committed to playing college soccer but has dreams of playing on the United States Women’s National Team and believes the USL W League is her next step on the way to this goal.

In June of 2021, Tormenta FC was named one of eight founding members of the USL W League, an elite pre-professional pathway for women looking to build their careers both on and off the pitch. For two decades between 1995 and 2015, the W League saw some of the biggest names past and present in the sport compete on the field, and this new era will build on the legacy of its predecessor. 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.

Tormenta Women will host its first open trial on Sunday, Dec. 12, at the Tormenta FC Training Grounds at The Clubhouse in Statesboro, Georgia (REGISTER HERE). Fans should stay tuned for information on additional open trials and upcoming announcements, such as official team branding, kits, player announcements and much more. 

For more information and to stay up to date on the latest about 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.

Elise grew up on her grandmother’s farm in Zanesville, Ohio, approximately an hour east of Columbus. She lived there until she was 9, then her family moved down south to Savannah, Georgia.

The forward began her playing career later than most, joining her local YMCA recreation team at age 9. On her 9th birthday, Elise scored her first goal and has been hooked on soccer ever since. Due to her high level of talent, people are often surprised to hear that she has only been playing for eight years.

Elise is a current senior at Savannah Arts Academy, where she is passionate about learning fine arts. She most enjoys portraits and realism while using acrylic paint, charcoal and graphite as her main methods.

Elise’s passion for soccer was ignited at a young age by watching the US Women’s National Team whenever she had the chance. Her favorite player to watch is USWNT legend, Abby Wambach. Holcey says that she also tries to match her playstyle to that of another USMNT great, Carli Lloyd.

Elise joined Tormenta FC Academy in 2019 and quickly rose to the top, being named captain of her 2003/04 Girls Ibis team this season, all while playing in a higher age bracket.

Elise is also a Tormenta Futures Coach where she inspires and leads 7 to 10-year-olds in fundamentals of soccer and relevant life lessons.

With aspirations to play professionally with the USWNT someday, Elise looks forward to honing her skills and learning from her teammates at Tormenta Women. The 17-year-old forward is excited for the growth of the women’s game in South Georgia and the Lowcountry of South Carolina and cant wait to get started in May 2022.

STATESBORO, Ga. – South Georgia Tormenta FC is thrilled to announce TFC Academy forward Elise Holcey as the first player for the club’s new USL W League team, pending league and federation approval. At 17 years old, Holcey has made national history as the inaugural signing across the entire USL W League in its new era, kicking off in May 2022.

Since its founding in 2015, Tormenta FC has led the way for the growth of soccer in South Georgia and the Lowcountry of South Carolina and continues this tradition today, as it extends its pathway to the professional level for young women across the region.

“I have been thoroughly impressed with Elise, both on and off the field since we started working together this past August,” Tormenta Women Head Coach Jim Robbins commented. “On the field, she possesses all the soccer abilities needed to be successful in the USL W League. She has a unique attacking skill set that we can continue to develop and showcase here at Tormenta FC this summer and for the next few years of her career.

“Away from the field, Elise embodies everything that Tormenta FC is known for. She truly defines what it means to be an athlete of good character and a positive ambassador of the game.”

The young striker joined TFC Academy in 2019 and quickly excelled to the top of the girl’s program, where she was named captain of the 2003/04 Girls Ibis team while playing up a year in age. This season, Holcey led her team to a second-place finish in the National League Piedmont Conference. Holcey also earned a spot on Tormenta FC’s USL Academy Girls roster and competed in the 2021 USL Academy Cup in Tampa, Florida.

Holcey has not yet committed to playing college soccer but has dreams of playing on the United States Women’s National Team and believes the USL W League is her next step on the way to this goal.

Off the pitch, Holcey attends Savannah Arts Academy (Class of 2022) and is a Tormenta Futures coach, mentoring children ages two to 10 in soccer and life lessons.

“What a tremendous delight to have Elise Holcey as our first Tormenta FC player in the USL W League,” Tormenta FC Co-Owner Netra R. Van Tassell said. “Elise is a wonderful young woman, who is positive and upbeat as well as hard-working and tenacious. She has a vision and goals for herself, and we are elated that our newest team will be able to provide her the platform to continue to grow and experience the beautiful game of soccer.”

Tormenta Women team will play its matches on Optim Health System Field at the club’s new state-of-the-art stadium in Statesboro, which will also serve as the home to the professional USL League One team, the pre-professional USL League Two squad and Georgia Southern University Men’s and Women’s NCAA Division I soccer teams.

In June of 2021, Tormenta FC was named one of eight founding members of the USL W League, an elite pre-professional pathway for women looking to build their careers both on and off the pitch. For two decades between 1995 and 2015, the W League saw some of the biggest names past and present in the sport compete on the field, and this new era will build on the legacy of its predecessor. 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.

Tormenta Women will host its first open trial on Sunday, Dec. 12, at the Tormenta FC Training Grounds at The Clubhouse in Statesboro, Georgia (REGISTER HERE). Fans should stay tuned for information on additional open trials and upcoming announcements, such as official team branding, kits, player announcements and much more.

For more information and to stay up to date on the latest about 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.

STATESBORO, Ga. – In June 2021, South Georgia Tormenta FC was named a founding member of the new USL W League, and the club has now announced details for its inaugural women’s open trial on Sunday, Dec. 12. Kicking off in 2022, Tormenta FC Women aims to identify and develop the next wave of elite female athletes in South Georgia and the Low Country of South Carolina.

STATESBORO, Ga. – In June 2021, South Georgia Tormenta FC was named a founding member of the new USL W League, and the club has now announced details for its inaugural women’s open trial on Sunday, Dec. 12. Kicking off in 2022, Tormenta FC Women aims to identify and develop the next wave of elite female athletes in South Georgia and the Low Country of South Carolina.

Media is invited to attend as aspiring USL W League players try out in front of club technical staff at The Clubhouse Fields in Statesboro, Georgia from 10 a.m. ET to 3:30 p.m. ET.

"We are excited to welcome talented and aspiring players to our USL W League tryouts this winter as we continue to build our roster for the inaugural 2022 season,” Tormenta Women Head Coach Jim Robbins said. “Our goal, first and foremost, is to identify talented players on the field who can help us achieve our goal of competing for the USL W Championship on an annual basis.

“We are also looking for players who fit Tormenta FC’s culture and who understand and embrace what it means to be an ambassador in the women's game and a positive role model for the younger players in our club and local community."

Athletes who want to try out for Statesboro’s first elite women’s team can register ahead online for $75 at www.tormentafc.com/trials or register as a walk-up on Dec. 12 for $100. All participants will receive a Tormenta FC training shirt.

The new women’s team will play its matches on Optim Health System Field at Tormenta FC’s new state-of-the-art stadium in Statesboro, which will also serve as the home to the professional USL League One team, the amateur USL League Two squad and Georgia Southern University Men’s and Women’s NCAA Division I soccer teams.

The USL W League is an elite pre-professional pathway for women looking to build their careers both on and off the pitch. For two decades between 1995 and 2015, the W League saw some of the biggest names past and present in the sport compete on the field, and this new era will build on the legacy of its predecessor. 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.

For more information and to stay up to date on the latest regarding 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.

Media is invited to attend as aspiring USL W League players try out in front of club technical staff at The Clubhouse Fields in Statesboro, Georgia from 10 a.m. ET to 3:30 p.m. ET.

“We are excited to welcome talented and aspiring players to our USL W League tryouts this winter as we continue to build our roster for the inaugural 2022 season,” Tormenta Women Head Coach Jim Robbins said. “Our goal, first and foremost, is to identify talented players on the field who can help us achieve our goal of competing for the USL W Championship on an annual basis.

“We are also looking for players who fit Tormenta FC’s culture and who understand and embrace what it means to be an ambassador in the women’s game and a positive role model for the younger players in our club and local community.”

Athletes who want to try out for Statesboro’s first elite women’s team can register ahead online for $75 at www.tormentafc.com/trials or register as a walk-up on Dec. 12 for $100. All participants will receive a Tormenta FC training shirt.

The new women’s team will play its matches on Optim Health System Field at Tormenta FC’s new state-of-the-art stadium in Statesboro, which will also serve as the home to the professional USL League One team, the amateur USL League Two squad and Georgia Southern University Men’s and Women’s NCAA Division I soccer teams.

The USL W League is an elite pre-professional pathway for women looking to build their careers both on and off the pitch. For two decades between 1995 and 2015, the W League saw some of the biggest names past and present in the sport compete on the field, and this new era will build on the legacy of its predecessor. 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.

For more information and to stay up to date on the latest regarding 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.

STATESBORO, Ga. – South Georgia Tormenta FC has partnered with Lee Hill & Johnston Insurors in Statesboro to highlight figures throughout the organization.

Tormenta FC’s next profile is Tormenta Women Head Coach Jim Robbins, who has more than 29 years of coaching experience at almost every level of the game in the United States, including five years at the pre-professional level – including USL League Two – and 14 years of college experience (NCAA DI, NCAA DIII, NJCAA DIII), with seven of those years in the Atlanta, Georgia, area.

Ahead of the W League team’s inaugural season, Tormenta FC will make many important announcements, including official team branding, players and more. Tormenta Women will serve as the official placeholder name of the team, while the club will ask the community for name submissions via an online form.

I have tons of great memories, both good and bad. Some of my favorites include coaching Dakota Fusion’s first-year NPSL team in the national tournament vs. Detroit City FC in front of 7,000 crazy supporters at historic Keyworth Stadium in Detroit, helping my LaGrange College women’s team to the conference championship game for the only time in program history, beating the 10-time defending champion in penalty kicks in the semifinals when the crowd carried our goalkeeper off the field – like in Rudy – after she scored the winning goal on the fifth shot and taking my Oxford College of Emory women’s team to Italy for preseason, where we played the U17 Italy Women’s National Team in a friendly and lost 13-0, but we did save a penalty kick. It was an awesome experience.

Outside of soccer, I enjoy playing golf, miniature golf, pickleball, racquetball and exercising. I also like to flip houses. My family and I flipped a house in Fargo, North Dakota, a couple years ago. We did pretty well for ourselves.

My favorite book is They Call Me Coach by John Wooden because he talks about how to be a role model, leader and someone who inspires and brings out the best in his players.

My favorite movie is Caddyshack because of all the one-liners and the great cast. Every time I watch it, I find something new to laugh at, a different line or a different scene. It is a classic.

My best advice is to dream big and set lofty goals, both in the game and outside of the sport. With hard work, dedication, passion and determination, everything is possible. Our sport will open lots of doors and opportunities, and you will have great experiences and memories that will last a lifetime. You will also make lifelong friends along the way. Everything is possible if you believe in yourself and just go for it.

My favorite meal is Vodka Rigatoni because it was the first meal that I cooked for my wife, Jocelyn, when we first started dating. The rest is history. Bring on Bobby Flay!

Both. We have had two dogs and three cats over the years. We just rescued our third cat, GiGi, on New Year’s Eve 2020. She is a tuxedo cat and acts like a dog for some reason.

I was born and raised in the Trenton, New Jersey, area. We played a lot of soccer back in the late ’70s and early ’80s. Our front lawn was mostly bare with no grass, and the side of the station wagon had numerous dents, as that was the goal on one side of the yard. Thankfully, we didn’t break any windows in the car, or in the house for that matter.

Tough question. I am a product of the ’80s and ’90s and enjoy rock and grunge from that time period. I like any song by Guns ‘N Roses, especially Sweet Child O’ Mine and Paradise City. I also enjoy listening to Metallica, Rush, Soundgarden and Nirvana. Metallica was my pre-game music in college. Rush has great lyrics, and Chris Cornell is amazing. Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana is by far my favorite song – apparently Curt Kobain didn’t know Teen Spirit was a women’s deodorant when he wrote the song.

My favorite vacation spot is North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. My family and I have vacationed there for more than 20 years. We have played most of the golf courses, all of the miniature golf courses (multiple times – we have two sons), and spent a lot of time on the beach, shopping at the outlets and eating tons of fudge. 

My biggest pet peeve is when the person in front of you does not hold the door for you when entering a building and instead lets it close in your face. A close second is when you hold the door for someone behind you and they do not say “thank you.” I just think it is disrespectful.

My parents were my inspiration and support growing up. Neither played sports, but they were always willing to take me to training sessions and games. I played on three teams for a few years. I didn’t miss anything. They always made sure I had what I needed to play, and they attended every game.

They always believed in me and gave me the opportunity to fully experience the game that I loved. My college coach at Lafayette College was my greatest role model. He is the reason why I got into coaching after the impact he had on my life during my time there. I wanted to be like him and have that same impact and influence on others. I owe him everything, and he is a big reason for who I am today.

I watched a lot of Spiderman cartoons when I was a kid. I always wished I could shoot spider webs from my wrists and swing around from the buildings in the area. It looked cool.

STATESBORO, Ga. – South Georgia Tormenta FC is thrilled to announce Jim Robbins as the club’s new USL W League Head Coach and TFC Academy’s new Girls Director. Robbins has more than 29 years of coaching experience at almost every level of the game in the United States, including five years at the pre-professional level – including USL League Two – and 14 years of college experience (NCAA DI, NCAA DIII, NJCAA DIII), with seven of those years in the Atlanta, Georgia, area.

“We are delighted to have Jim join the Tormenta FC family ahead of our inaugural season in the W League,” Co-Owner Netra R. Van Tassell said. “Jim has the experience and character to lead our new USL W League team, and he will use those same qualities to inspire all girls in our Academy system throughout South Georgia and the Lowcountry of South Carolina.”

Robbins has 11 years of experience in women’s soccer across the country, serving as the Head Coach at Long Island University Brooklyn, LaGrange College and Oxford College of Emory University, as well as an assistant coach at North Dakota State University.

Having served as a state coaching instructor and coach for the Olympic Development Program in New Jersey and Georgia for over 20 years, Robbins holds a Master’s Degree in Coaching and has earned his Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist credential, as well as his Professional Football Scouts Association Level 1 and Level 2 certification. Additionally, Robbins holds the following soccer certifications and licenses: USSF ‘A’ License, NSCAA Premier Diploma, NSCAA Advanced National Diploma, USSF National Youth License, NSCAA Youth Diploma, NSCAA Goalkeeper 1 Diploma.

“I would like to thank Netra and Darin Van Tassell, Jeff Spencer and Brad Nein for giving me the opportunity to work at Tormenta FC,” Robbins said. “I look forward to representing such a professional organization with great leaders, coaches and support staff. My goal is to help Tormenta FC achieve all of its stated goals, both on and off the field.”

Robbins has 11 years of experience in women’s soccer across the country, serving as the Head Coach at Long Island University Brooklyn, LaGrange College and Oxford College of Emory University, as well as an assistant coach at North Dakota State University.

Having served as a state coaching instructor and coach for the Olympic Development Program in New Jersey and Georgia for over 20 years, Robbins holds a Master’s Degree in Coaching and has earned his Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist credential, as well as his Professional Football Scouts Association Level 1 and Level 2 certification. Additionally, Robbins holds the following soccer certifications and licenses: USSF ‘A’ License, NSCAA Premier Diploma, NSCAA Advanced National Diploma, USSF National Youth License, NSCAA Youth Diploma, NSCAA Goalkeeper 1 Diploma.

“I would like to thank Netra and Darin Van Tassell, Jeff Spencer and Brad Nein for giving me the opportunity to work at Tormenta FC,” Robbins said. “I look forward to representing such a professional organization with great leaders, coaches and support staff. My goal is to help Tormenta FC achieve all of its stated goals, both on and off the field.”

Ahead of the W League team’s inaugural season, Tormenta FC will make many important announcements, including official team branding, players and more. Tormenta Women will serve as the official placeholder name of the team, while the club will ask the community for name submissions via an online form.

The new women’s team will play its matches on Optim Health System Field at Tormenta FC’s state-of-the-art facility in Statesboro, which will also serve as the home to the club’s professional USL League One team, the USL League Two squad and USL Academy youth teams — as well as both the Georgia Southern University Men’s and Women’s NCAA Division I soccer teams. When not in use for soccer, the stadium will host live concerts, and maintain space available for conferences, weddings, reunions and other large gatherings.

In its 11-year history, Tormenta FC Academy has produced a number of rising female talents, who went on to play for top colleges throughout the region and now have the opportunity to return to their local club. For example, rising star Abi Brighton plays for Vanderbilt University and recently was called up to the U-20 National Team Virtual Meetings.

For more information and to stay up to date on the latest regarding 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, call (478-508-2604) or email: bodonnell@https://sportsengine-staging.go-vip.net/tormentafc.