Premier Development League: Everson scores twice in first game with Sockers

MIDLAND If this was the beginning of a playoff push by the West Texas United Sockers, the first hurdle would be perhaps the easiest one to overcome.

The Sockers made it look easy in Friday's 2-0 win against the Houston Leones at Grande Communications Stadium.

Before the game, the Sockers sat in fifth place in the Premier Development League's Mid South Division. It was the first of six remaining regular-season games in the season, which needs to end with them in third place because only the top three qualify for the playoffs.

Fortunately for the Sockers, the start of the stretch began with the Leones, a team that is still winless (0-10-3) and has mustered just five goals this season.

Ben Everson's two goals - one in each half - were plenty for the Sockers (5-3-3).

"I felt like I really fit in with the team," said Everson, who joined the team this week after coming from another PDL team, the Bradenton (Fla.) Academics. "Things worked out for me. I'm happy."

The Sockers were without Raul Franco, suspended for one game because of a red card in the previous game. To rest them for today's game against the first-place El Paso Patriots, head coach Jesus Enriquez did not start forward Joe Munoz and midfielder Junior Hernandez, while putting Permian graduate Austin Stevens in goal instead of Leif Craddock, who had started every other game.

For all of Houston's ineptness at defending this season - the Leones allowed a division-high 27 goals before Friday - the Sockers did not quite take advantage in the first half, losing possession quickly and playing more long balls than they perhaps should have.

Still, the addition of Everson, a soon-to-be senior at West Texas A&M who received the Southwest Soccer Conference's Offensive Player of the Year award last season, was an offensive boost.

Enriquez had said his team dominated previous games but could not finish.

Everson is a finisher.

"When you have someone like that," Enriquez said, "it gives the team confidence."

In his debut in front of a fireworks show-boosted crowd of 3,869, Everson showed he has quick feet and fine vision.

In the 14th minute, Everson received the ball from forward Eugene Brooks about 25 yards away from the goal, shed a defender by shifting quickly to his left, then fired it into the right side of the goal to put the Sockers ahead 1-0.

"There was no pressure on me, I went past one player and shot it with my left," Everson said. "The shot was open, and I wanted to see what would happen. Luckily, it went in."

The Sockers looked far sharper in the second half. Everson had a terrific chance four minutes in, running clear toward the middle of the goal, but was jammed by goalkeeper Agustin Sandoval, who came out of the box to deflect the ball away.

In the 53rd minute, the Sockers' Dominic Furness was a few yards away from the goal when his deflection was barely scooped by Sandoval.

But seven minutes later, Everson struck again. Soon after a blast from Stevens, Everson was very close to the left sideline, about 15 yards away from the goal, and sent a floater that beautifully curved just enough to hit the right side of the net.

If this is a different - and significantly better - team with Everson, the Sockers must prove it against visiting El Paso at 7:30 p.m. today.

Enriquez said that these two home games - their final regular-season home contests of the season - were must-wins.

El Paso is certainly beatable. After all, the Sockers were ahead 3-1 against the Patriots on June 25 before finishing with a 3-3 tie.

However, they did not have Everson then.

"We want to beat El Paso so bad," Enriquez said. "(Today) we're gonna go with all that we have."