NPSL Team - Inaugural Season

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NPSL

inaugural season

STORM entered into the fray that is semi-professional soccer in the United States at the end of 2020. They would compete in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) in the Southeast Region for 2021. For the club’s first signing, Hunter Jumper, who had previously played 3 years in the MLS with Chicago Fire, was signed by General Manager Stephen Bivens. With the club’s first big signing, the squad took shape over the next 2 months. For the first unofficial match, Storm hosted Rovers FC on April 6 at Chestnut Log Soccer Complex with 100 fans in attendance, winning 6-0 by the end of the 90 mins as a great preparation for the season ahead. For the last friendly before the inaugural NPSL season, Storm hosted Potros in a match where they created chance after chance but could not find the back of the net, with the match ending 0-0. With the first match of the season looking, Storm signed two more marquee players in Kevin Barajas, who played two years with Atlanta United 2 in the USL, and Andrew Carleton, who had played with Indy Eleven of the USL as well as Atlanta United in the MLS. Season kicks off On May 1, Georgia Revolution traveled to Grisham Stadium to play Storm in our first ever NPSL match. The match started extremely fast as Revolution sought to impose their will, but 22 minutes into the match Stephen Bivens challenged for a ball as he was kicked by the opponent. Since he was the last man, the referee had no choice but to send him off.

Although Storm slowly took over control of the match, Revolution capitalized on a mistake in transition and took the lead 1-0 after a volley from Geovanni Rios. Storm attacked until the final whistle, but they were unable to equalize. Recovering from their opening match loss, Storm charged onto an unbeaten run of matches, including wins against Metro Louisville, Athletico Lanier, and draws with Georgia Revolution and Appalachian FC. Storm were very unlucky to draw Georgia Revolution in the return leg after a late goal was called back for a marginal offside call. The great run of form saw Storm score 7 goals and only concede 2. After this good run of form, a loss away to North Alabama SC on a back-to-back, having only played Appalachian FC at home the previous night. Bouncing back positively, the team defeated North Alabama in the return leg a week later 3-1 in a torrential downpour. With two matches remaining, Storm needed only 3 points to lock in a second-place finish in the league ahead of the playoffs. Hosting Metro Louisville FC, Storm attacked from the first whistle, scoring 7 first half goals. Not content to slow down, Storm added an additional 7 goals in the second half for a final score of 14-0 to clinch second place in the league. In the final league match before the playoffs, Storm traveled to Appalachian FC in an exciting, attacking contest where Appalachian FC and its large home support saw them take a 2-0 lead into halftime. Storm responded well to the adversity as they scored twice to equalize with 10 minutes to play, including a quick counter-attack from an Appalachian FC corner. Pushing for the win, Appalachian scored the winner with a few minutes left, sealing a 3-2 victory, but the two would have to rematch 10 days later at Grisham Stadium in the playoff semi-final. Storm concluded their first league season with a record of 5-32, scoring 26 goals and conceding 9.

On July 14th, Grisham Stadium saw the first-ever Georgia Storm NPSL playoff game with Appalachian FC as the visitors. After only 3 minutes, Storm earned itself a penalty kick, which Andrew Carleton stepped forward and finished with aplomb to give the hosts a 1-0 lead. Only 14 minutes later, Appalachian FC earned a penalty of its own, finishing it to tie the score at 1-1. For most of the match, Storm dominated position and chances created with the winner scored in the 68th minute from the right edge of the penalty area by Wilfried Kamdem Tchoupa. Though Storm could have added to the lead, the game was closed out with yet another organized effort from the back four and goalkeeper to seal the 2-1 victory, sending Storm to the Conference Playoff Final in their inaugural season. The final kicked off at 8PM on Saturday, July 17 at Henry County High School with Storm anxious to win its first title in its inaugural season. From the kickoff, Storm attacked and attacked until it finally broke the final open with a goal from Stephen Bivens off a header in the 27th

minute. Heading into the half leading 1-0, Storm looked in good form to win the title. As the second half began, Georgia Revolution tried to get back into the match, but they were struggling to find their feet. In the 55th minute, there was a clash at midfield with Storm’s Kevin Barajas who was shown a red card, which turned the match on its head with Revs scoring twice in the final thirty minutes to secure the Southeast Conference Title..

Season Ends In its first season in the NPSL, Storm had accumulated 6 wins, had 4 losses, and 2 draws, while scoring 29 goals and conceding 12. After the season, Head Coach Josh Bivens said, “It was a phenomenal first year to make it to the Southeastern Conference Championship game in our first season. If it wasn’t for a slight rush of blood, we likely would have won it. We had lots of learning lessons

in our first year and will come back even stronger next year.”