[May 24, 2013] PREMIER DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE SOCCER: Dutch Lions rout Sockers Tweet May 24, 2013 (Odessa American - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- MIDLAND Sockers FC knocked on the door. The Houston Dutch Lions went ahead and just let themselves in. Two first-half goals, including one three minutes into the game, and two more three minutes apart in the second half pushed the Lions past the Sockers 4-1 in a Premier Development League Mid-South Division match Thursday at Grande Communications Stadium. The Sockers (0-2-1) suffered their first loss to the Lions (1-1-1) at home in three meetings. Forward Thomas Verhaar, a key part in a seamless Lions' counter attack, had a foot in every scoring situation for Houston, netting a second-half goal to enhance his three assists. "We felt like we had a lot to prove coming here -- that we are a team to be reckoned with," said Lions forward Westin Vallentine, who had a goal and an assist. "We are very happy with tonight." Verhaar had the Lions off and running in the third minute, curling a corner-kick offering into the penalty area that was headed home by Walter Kromholz. He then led Cameron Free through the Sockers' back line in the 32nd minute for the Lions' 2-0 halftime advantage. "They were getting us on the counter -- smart on their part," Sockers head coach Warren Cottle said. "The whole game was played in their half (of the field). The score doesn't show it." Vallentine and Verhaar orchestrated a pair of tallies after the break, with one assisting the other in the 60th and 63rd minutes -- fluid in transition on both accounts. "It took us a bit to get our chemistry right, but it's starting to click and it's looking real nice," Vallentine said. Vitalis Atemafac, a second-half substitution, provided the Sockers with their lone goal in the 71st, which snapped a four-half scoring drought, to make it 4-1. The Sockers had eight corner kicks in the first half, but only two of those led to a shot on net -- two of the three the Sockers had during the opening 45 minutes, which were all turned aside by Jaimy Schaap. The corner-kick edge tilted toward the Sockers, 12-3, at the end of the proceedings. They had seven shots on target for the game. It will be a quick turnaround for the Sockers, who welcome Oklahoma City FC on Saturday. "We've just got to get back on the deal and get after it," Cottle said. --Follow Joshua Weaver on Twitter @OAtheWeave ___ (c)2013 the Odessa American (Odessa, Texas) Visit the Odessa American (Odessa, Texas) at www.oaoa.com Distributed by MCT Information Services [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]