It's been a while since the last Tormenta FC post was made on Dirty South Soccer. A couple years, in fact. I think it's about time that changes. Strap in.

The only independent, professional soccer team in Georgia not named Atlanta United is set to take the field for the first time just over a month from now. South Georgia Tormenta FC, representing the southern part of the state out of Statesboro, is set to make the jump into professional soccer after three years in the Premier Development League (now USL League Two). Tormenta is one of ten teams making up the new USL League One, forming the third division of US Soccer with a professional league to bridge the gap between League Two and the USL Championship. Between Tormenta, Greenville Triumph, and Chattanooga Red Wolves, the south will be able to enjoy more pro soccer than ever before.

But what will the league look like talent wise? A new level has opened up for soccer players in the United States, and how these rosters are built will shape this new league's place within the American pyramid. As of now, Tormenta has signed 21 out of a possible 25 players. This article will break down the construction of Tormenta's first ever professional roster and give a glimpse of what is to come in the 2019 season.

Based on the last two years of Coach John Miglarese's leadership, I expect Tormenta to continue using the 4-2-3-1 formation that saw the team win its first US Open Cup game and complete an undefeated regular season. However, I am no Coach Miglarese, and I'll be speculating on who might play where based on minutes played in 2018 as well as the pedigree of the club the players are transferring in from.

Goalkeepers

Pablo Jara: The starting goalkeeper from the 2018 Tormenta squad, Pablo Jara was a commanding force at the back, notching 6 shutouts in his 12 appearances in the regular season. He was even more impressive at Wingate University, where he piled up awards like a goalkeeping Josef Martinez. With his familiarity with the team, I think Pablo will be able to have good control over the back line, making him the first choice keeper for 2019.

Micah Bledsoe: A newcomer to the team, Micah Bledsoe joins after stints in the USL Championship with Louisville City and Nashville SC. The Lipscomb alum holds the men's' records for wins, save percentage, and shutouts, proving himself to professional teams. While he never made a first team appearance in the USL, he should provide insight as a former pro and compete for starts in League One.

Mitch Thorn: Signed from Tormenta's open trials, Mitch Thorn rounds out the goalkeeper position. Thorn has experience both in his native Australia and in the United States, graduating from Florida Institute of Technology as the starting goalkeeper. In addition, Thorn played in League Two with both Orlando City U23s and Thunder Bay Chill. He has spent the past couple years in Australia in different levels of Football Queensland with the Brisbane Strikers and Logan Lightning.

Left Back

Jerry Saint-Vil: The Haitian youth international returns for a second year with Tormenta, this time as a pro. Saint-Vil appeared 13 times for Tormenta, however with 566 minutes total he was used more off the bench. As with a lot of this team, he is a versatile player, and can play as a left or center back.

There will almost certainly be another left back signing in the near future to add to this position, but other players like Nick Wells could potentially make the switch if needed.

Center Back

Josh Phelps: The first ever USL League One player, Josh Phelps is the reigning captain of this team heading into his third season in the blue and magenta. The Australian logged nearly 1,000 minutes last season, separating himself as one of the most important components to the team. Phelps will surely be a key part once again in Tormenta's 2019 campaign.

Lars Eckenrode: Drafted in 2017 by Toronto FC, Eckenrode has spent the past two seasons with Toronto FC II in the USL Championship before joining their new League One rivals. Eckenrode appeared 18 times for Toronto despite some injury setbacks. Here's a bit of trivia: his brother, Jannik, also played for Tormenta last summer. Lars will come in as one of the most experienced pros on the team and is also only 23 years old.

Michael O'Sullivan: A bit of a lower division journeyman, Michael O'Sullivan spent time with the NASL Jacksonville Armada after his time at Palm Beach Atlantic University and various League Two clubs, then in the NPSL with Palm Beach United. O'Sullivan started every game as a captain in his senior year with PBA, and despite his longer list of clubs is still only 23 years old. This mix of youth and experience will definitely be beneficial to the squad.

Michael Mecham: After a 2016 run in the USL Championship with the Wilmington Hammerheads (making 23 starts in 28 appearances) Mecham joined Tormenta FC for the 2018 season but was only able to make eight appearances due to injuries. However, he has previously played at all spots along the back line and should be key depth during a long professional season.

Right Back

Conner Antley: An attacking force on the outside, Conner Antley was an easy choice to bring up with the team after his 2018 season. Averaging a shot per game as a right back, Antley showcased his ability to switch from defense to attack last summer. His college career is impressive as well, with his time at Mercer showcasing his abilities both on offense and defense as well as stamina, which will be important when playing in a professional game.

Nick Wells: A familiar face in Statesboro, Nick Wells joins after spending four years with Georgia Southern and his last two summers with Tormenta FC. He split starts with Antley during the 2018 campaign, including a start against the Charleston Battery in the U.S. Open Cup. He has played up and down the right side for Georgia Southern, proving his versatility and ability to be called upon when needed.

Central Midfield

Nil Vinyals: Brought up from the team's League Two squad, Nil "The Wizard" Vinyals has been a mainstay in the South Georgia midfield for the past two years, playing in all but one game during his time in Statesboro. His offensive contribution trended upwards from 2017 to 2018, making him an easy choice to join the League One squad. Vinyals received high praise from Miglarese upon his signing, calling him "one of the best players I have ever coached." All signs point to Nil having a big role in the professional team.

Lucas Coutinho: Another one of many Palm Beach Atlantic products, Lucas Coutinho joins Tormenta with experience from a variety of leagues. After graduating from PBA, the Brazilian Coutinho joined NY Cosmos B in the NPSL for their 2017 season, and then moved to Lakeland where he split his time between the League Two's Lakeland Tropics and MASL's Florida Tropics. His time in indoor soccer should prove beneficial to working in the tight spaces in midfield. Coutinho will likely play in both a central midfield role and as an attacking 10.

Ricardo Gomez: A Georgia native and newcomer on the professional level, Ricardo Gomez joins the team after his time at the college and League Two level. He moved to the University of South Florida after attending Tyler Junior College. At USF, he appeared nearly every game in the midfield, and picked up All-American and All-Conference awards. He spent his past two summers with the Myrtle Beach Mutiny, where he logged over 1000 minutes in each season. The Mutiny won their division in both seasons, so hopefully Gomez's successful tenure there can translate with his new team.

Peter Pearson: Fresh off of his senior year at Virginia Commonwealth University, Peter Pearson comes to Statesboro after serving as VCU's captain and playing all 14 regular season games last summer with one of the historically top League Two teams in the Des Moines Menace. Pearson split his college career between the University of Virginia and VCU, and also spent time at Virginia Beach City (NPSL) and the former Fresno Fuego (League 2). He can play both midfield and defensive roles, providing more versatility to this squad.

Left Wing

Jad Arslan: The only player on this roster who remains from day one, Jad Arslan has worn the blue and magenta since the club's inaugural season in 2016. The winger spent his college career at West Virginia, where he was a starter his senior year and was named to the All-Conference team. Jad was an easy choice to call up for League One, and his ability to play both wings along with his familiarity with the team will make him an important part of the team's success in 2019.

Chris Hellmann: Drafted by the Vancouver Whitecaps in the 2016 MLS Superdraft, Chris Hellmann has spent his last 3 years playing at clubs in the US and abroad. After being released by Vancouver, the German native made eight appearances with the League One Charlotte Independence before returning to Germany with the fourth-tier FC Astoria Walldorf. Chris returned to the U.S. and played alongside Peter Pearson with the Des Moines Menace in League Two. The left winger, while only 26, is one of the older players on the squad, and should be able to provide leadership and experience from his time abroad.

Center Attacking Midfield

Charlie Dennis: Another player to come through Palm Beach Atlantic, Charlie Dennis has the unique distinction of already being a Tormenta player gone pro. After a strong 2017 summer with Tormenta, Dennis signed with USL Championship side Nashville SC at the beginning of 2018, only to see his time there cut short by a knee surgery. He returned to Tormenta in time to finish out the League Two season, and signed on for League One afterwards. With Tormenta in 2017 and 2018, the 6' 2" Englishman showed his technical ability and his ability to hit some killer free kicks. I can see him being used as an attacking midfielder and possibly forward as a false nine.

Marco Micaletto: Serving as Tormenta's 10 for their division championship 2018 season, Marco Micaletto proved his professional value by leading the team in goals and shots, leading to him being a part of the 2018 All-PDL team. Even before his time with Tormenta, Marco saw success with another League Two team, Reading United, where he scored the winning goal in their Open Cup upset of the NASL New York Cosmos in 2017. He recently finished his college career with Akron, where he reached the 2018 NCAA National Championship before a narrow defeat to Maryland. Micaletto and Dennis will likely split time, and could be a good position battle to watch as the season progresses.

Right Wing

Alex Morrell: The only other player on this roster to be selected in the Superdraft, Alex Morrell joins Tormenta after three years of professional experience. Morrell was selected by the Chicago Fire in 2016 and made four MLS appearances. After a short loan to St. Louis in the USL Championship, Morrell transferred to Tampa Bay in 2017, where he made thirty five appearances over two seasons. Used primarily as a right winger, he started most of his games in his first year with the Rowdies. But as the 2018 season came he found himself coming off the bench instead, and he now joins Tormenta on a free transfer. With the ability to get constant minutes in a new league, I think Morrell can be a key player for the Tormenta's inaugural pro run.

Dalton Pando: Somewhat of an American soccer journeyman, Dalton Pando has played at a variety of levels in the U.S. and at a variety of positions. Pando was a part of the US U-17 Residency Program alongside now senior national team players like Shaq Moore, Corey Baird, and Rubio Rubin. He appeared for Nashville SC's U23 team that competed against Tormenta back in 2017, and pulled off this move against the South Georgia defense. Other stints for Pando include Johnson and Wales University, UC Santa Barbara, the MASL Sacramento Surge, and fellow League One debutant FC Tucson. Pando's versatile positioning allows him to play forward or back on the wings, making him a valuable roster piece.

Center Forward

Mikie Rowe: A Tormenta regular for the past two years, Mikie Rowe brings both team chemistry and an attacking presence to the pro team. Rowe recently finished his college career at Young Harris with a bang, scoring 22 goals and 5 assists in 19 games to win the NCAA Division II Player of the Year. With Tormenta, Rowe featured on the right wing, but his stellar performance at forward with YHC shows his ability to play up top as well. The Irishman has found himself a groove over the past year, and hopefully he can continue his form at the professional level. (I also highly recommend reading this interview from the Irish New Ross Standard.)

And with that we come to the end of Tormenta's current 21 man roster:

But where will the remaining spots go? Depth at left back is a necessity, as well as a true forward, although the versatility in this position is much greater. Other possibilities are depth at center back and midfield to round out the roster, but they are for the most part filled out.

As the other League One rosters begin to take shape, we are beginning to see what the level of play will be like. Formidable rosters by the rest of the league will no doubt be tough, entertaining matchups for Tormenta's inaugural pro season. But with the chemistry and flexibility in this roster, Tormenta should pose a threat to the new league and entertain fans both in South Georgia and around the country.

We'll find out just how right I am about this tomorrow, when Tormenta FC takes on the Tampa Bay Rowdies from Statesboro in a public preseason friendly at 5 P.M.

Update:. Against the Rowdies, Tormenta came out in a 3-5-2, solving the lack of depth at fullback and giving the team some tactical flexibility.