Back in the Saddle Again

We're so back. 

Well, the team is back after a week off as they will take on Spokane Velocity Saturday night at Tormenta Stadium. By car, it's a cool 2,565 miles from One Spokane Stadium to Tormenta Stadium. That is roughly 10 percent of the distance around the Earth's equator. Sometimes I forget just how big this country is. For comparison, the driving distance from Lisbon, Portugal to Kyiv, Ukraine is 2,543 miles. I know you're here for the mileage facts. 

My super quick Google search tells me the ball in a game travels an average of 6.5 miles per game, so it would take 395 games to cover the distance from Tormenta to Spokane. 

Am I killing space here because the day job has been really busy this week and I haven't been able to do much on the blog? It absolutely is. But I had a friend in college tell me that if someone asks you a question and you don't know the answer, just tell them something else they didn't know so they leave the conversation knowing more than they did before.

Spokane currently sits atop the table with 14 points through seven games. After a draw and a loss to start the year, the Velocity have rolled off four wins and a tie, averaging three goals a game during that stretch. 

Anaur Pelaez (four goals) and Luis Gil (three goals) lead the way for Spokane, who not only boast an impressive offense, but have only surrendered seven goals on the year with goalkeeper Carlos Merancio Valdez leading the league with 21 saves so far. 

Tormenta, meanwhile, is led by Mason Tunbridge's five goals in League One play, which is tied for the league lead with Naples' Karsen Henderlong and Richmond's Darwin Espinal. 

As Ian Cameron said last week, Tormenta is going to need better defensive performances going forward to reach their ultimate goal. Spokane's attack will provide a tough challenge. One would expect Austin Pack to be back in goal after Sam Jones manned the pipes in the Jagermeister Cup match.

Like I said, it's been a busy week so I apologize I didn't get more of a preview.

Posting Schedule: It may be a bit light around here next week. I'll have my game recap posted on the Statesboro Herald Sunday sometime and then next Thursday I'll have a USL-W story, also in the Statesboro Herald. Longtime readers know my policy is that if someone is willing to pay me to write for them, then I will gladly do that. I'll post links on BlueSky  for those who follow me there. I'll do my best to get something on here next week if time allows. 

Finally, there is a USL-W meet and greet from 5-7 at Tormenta Stadium on Thursday, May 15. I'd hoped to go to that, but it turns out my kid is smart and will be at his high school honors night at that time. (Given the choice, I think he'd pick the meet and greet and between you and me, I would rather do that too, but we're going to be responsible and supportive parents and celebrate his academic achievements.) But just because I can't go doesn't mean you shouldn't stop by.