Get to know your Tormenta W-League squad

Tormenta's W-League season starts really soon.

Well that got here quick. The Tormenta USLW team starts training this week and while there are still signings to announce according to Head Coach Jim Robbins, there have already been several members of the team named so far..

Practice started Wednesday and there's not a lot of time between then and the first game, which will be just two weeks when they travel to face the Fayetteville Fury. From there it's a sprint as the team will have 12 games in six weeks as they try to reclaim the title they won in 2022. 

I may have missed some signings, but I tried to update this as they came in to provide a bit of background on the players announced so far. I can't stress enough how enjoyable the games are and if you have the chance to go, you absolutely should make it to a game and see for yourself. 

The first home game for Tormenta will be Sunday, May 26 when they host the NC Courage U23 team at 6 p.m.

(Programming note: I'm going to do my best to cover as many Tormenta W-League games as I can, either here or, ideally, at the Statesboro Herald if I can convince them it's worth their while.) 

Smith Cathey (Georgia Southern) - Cathey returns to Tormenta following her year at Georgia Southern. In the Eagles' first 17 games, she's tallied seven goals. My son's friend's dad is a professor at GSU and she was in his class once. That's the kind of useless knowledge you can only get here... unless you're following my son's friend's dad on social media, in which case you could get that useless knowledge elsewhere. 

Jenna Moran (Charleston Southern) - Moran was named Big South Conference Goalkeeper of the Year this past year after allowing only 1.17 goals per match. She posted 10 shutouts during her career. To my knowledge, none of my son's friend's parents have been her professor, but I haven't completely confirmed that. 

Jhenesis Ellerbe - (Georgia Southern) - Ellerbe returns to Tormenta for her third season. She captained the 2023 squad and was a member of the 2022 title winning team. The Georgia Southern senior made six apperances for the Eagles where the played following four years at Young Harris College. 

Farah El Tayar -  (Florida International) - El Tayar played left back for the Panthers, helping lead them to their first conference tournament appearance since 2013. She's represented Lebanon's National Team four times, including once for the senior team. 

Natalia Santangelo - (Virginia Commonwealth) - A left back with attacking tendencies, Santangelo scored seven goals on just 14 shots for VCU while contributing to eight shutouts during her junior year in 2022. She missed her senior season due to injuries, but will be joining Tormenta for the summer.

Cora Brendle - (University of South Carolina Upstate) - Brendle returns to Tormenta following a stellar season with the Spartans with 55 saves and six clean sheets on the year. In 2023 she was named Big South Goalkeeper of the Year as well as first team all conference and tournament team. 

Briana Eads (University of North Alabama) - Eads started at Jacksonville State where she started all 64 matches while in Jacksonville. She then transferred to North Alabama, starting in 22 games there and helping the Lions to the Atlantic Sun conference championship.

Carlyn Presley (University of Alabama-Birmingham) - Presley, scored six goals and added two assists for UAB and was named to the second team, all conference honors for Conference USA. The left winger will look to create offense for Tormenta this Summer. 

Roisin McGovern (University of Dayton) - McGovern returns for Tormenta for another go at it after playing on the 2023 team. She played for the University of Dayton after previously playing at Temple. The center back played for Ireland's U17 and U19 National Team. 

Blaire Currie (Spring Arbor University) - Currie is another returner to Tormenta as she also played on the 2023 squad. The goalkeeper from New Zealand played her college ball at Spring Arbor University where she led the Cougars to the NAIA semifinals where they lost to the eventual champions, University of the Cumberland Patriots. 

Elis Nemtsov (Georgia Southern) - Nemtsov returns for her third season with Tormenta following her junior season with the Eagles. She was a key contributor to the 2022 USLW title-winning team as well as the 2022 Sunbelt conference winning team for Georgia Southern and can play all over the field. 

Sarah Hagg (University of Memphis) - Look at that, another returner, this time the center back from the University of Memphis as Hagg played every minute for the Tigers this past season. She helped lead Memphis to their third straight American Athletic Conference title and spearheaded a defense that had 13 clean sheets in their 22 games. 

Krista Peterson (University of Hawaii) - The central attacking midfielder finished up her third season for Hawaii with two assists during the year. In 2022 she led the team with five goals and four assists. 

Sofia Giamanco  (Iona University) - The five-year starter at Iona primarily played forward during her college career where she scored six goals and had six assists. With Tormenta, she's expected to play as a right back according to Head Coach Jim Robbins.