South Georgia Tormenta FC's 2017 season is shaping up to mirror the club's inaugural 2016 campaign. That may seem like great news for a team that was recognized as 'Best New Franchise' by the Premier Development League last year, but there is still more work to be done.
    Last season, Tormenta was held scoreless in its first four matches and was 0-3-1 before catching fire, only to end up just outside of the playoff picture.
    More goals have flooded in this season, but four draws — many of which could have easily been wins — have left Tormenta (4-2-4) staring up at the team's in playoff contention with just four games remaining.
    But once again, Tormenta is running as hot as any club in the league.
    South Georgia notched its first win on June 8 with a decisive victory over the then-division leading Nashville SC. Two more draws followed, but Tormenta is currently riding a three game winning streak, sandwiching a 1-0 home win over the Tri-Cities Otters between identical 4-0 dismantlings of the SC United Bantams on the road.
    Tormenta will continue to rack up the travel miles tonight as they cruise into Johnson City in the northeast corner of Tennessee to take another crack at Tri-Cities. This will be South Georgia's first visit to Tri-Cities since the club's first ever game last May.
    Tormenta will look to ride an offensive wave that has been churning along for over a month. Forward Jamie Merriam leads the way with eight goals on the season while Sam Lofts has found the net in each of the team's last three contests.
    The Tormenta defense allowed some goals in transition and off of turnovers early in the season, but with the offense now controlling the pace more often than not, the South Georgia back line now looks menacing. Josh Phelps, Ayou Sossou and Leland Archer have dealt with any trouble coming their way lately and since getting his first start of the season three matches ago goalkeeper Matt Rosenberg has rattled off three consecutive clean sheets, saving all 11 shots he has faced.
    Kickoff tonight is scheduled for 7 p.m.