Beginning this morning and carrying on throughout the day, 52 of the best youth soccer teams in Georgia will make their way to Statesboro for a weekend full of action that will determine state champions in seven different age groups.
    A tournament with a rich and respected history, the Georgia State Cup turned its eyes on Statesboro last year. Following years of the tournament choosing to keep its later rounds close to Atlanta, the State Cup took a chance on Statesboro, moving the semifinals and finals into a part of the state less renowned for soccer.
    That the tournament is thrilled to be returning this year is a testament to the show that Statesboro puts on for players and fans alike.
    “We’re very excited to be coming back to Statesboro,” Georgia Soccer Tournament Director Sharron Safriet said. “Last year provided everyone with some great new experiences. We expect this year to be even bigger and better.”
    Games will be contested at Georgia Southern’s Eagle Field, as well as at six fields set up at the Recreation Activities Center. Age groups run from U13 through U18 for both boys and girls, with the boys’ side also including a U19 division. Semifinals will be contested Saturday before all 13 championship games are played Sunday.
    As with last year’s event, this year’s tournament will provide a unique experience for teams outside of the time they spend on the field. Usually scattered around local hotels in host cities, most players will instead be staying at Freedom’s Landing, a Georgia Southern student housing complex adjacent to Eagle Field.
    “We heard a lot of great things about that last year,” Safriet said. “It’s kind of got the feeling of an Olympic village setting. It keeps teams together and allows them to interact with players from all over.”
    Before the games get underway, tonight’s Tormenta FC home match against Peachtree City MOBA will serve as the backdrop for the Georgia State Cup’s opening ceremonies.
    In the short time that Statesboro has served as the host for the final rounds, the impact is already being felt.
    “We’re expecting the boost to the community to be around $1.5 million,” Tormenta FC owner and president Darin Van Tassell said. “It’s incredible to have so many people travel here to see that Statesboro can put on a great soccer tournament.”
    Along with the economic impact, progress is also being made to get local teams into the Final Four.
    The final rounds of the Georgia State Cup have historically been an almost entirely Atlanta-themed affair. Soccer Academy powerhouses in Atlanta suburbs like Alpharetta, Cumming, Lilburn and Marietta routinely have teams across all age groups make it to the final weekend of the tournament.
    At least one team will shake that trend this year as Storm Soccer Academy — based in the Savannah area — is the No. 3 seed in the Boys U16 division.
     “A lot of us have been playing together forever,” Storm player Payne Van Tassell said. “We always want to prove to the Atlanta teams that we belong and that we can compete (for a championship). I think a lot of us are feeling like this could be the year we get it done.”
    Storm Soccer is now a partner with Tormenta FC — Statesboro’s brand new Premier Development League franchise. The U16 squad playing this weekend is also coached by Ben Freakley, one of the many hats he wears when not in action as Tormenta’s general manager and head coach.
    “Coach is a big reason we’re at this point,” Payne Van Tassell said. “He’s intense and keeps all of us focused and working hard. He always wants to prove that we can compete with the Atlanta teams and we’re all trying to prove that right.”
    Semifinal games are slated to begin at 9 a.m. Saturday and will run through about 9 p.m. Sunday’s title games will begin at 9 a.m., with the last few slated to kick off at 1 p.m.
    Two of the seven fields will be wired for live video streaming, complete with play-by-play coverage and color commentary. Those games can be viewed on computers, tablets and phones by logging on to georgiastatecup.com.

    Mike Anthony may be reached at (912) 489-9408.