https://www.mrt.com/sports/article/NPSL-Diaz-haunts-old-team-lifts-Laredo-past-12942697.php
NPSL: Diaz haunts old team, lifts Laredo past Sockers
By Will Korn, MRT.com/Midland Reporter-Telegram
Updated 11:03 pm CDT, Thursday, May 24, 2018
Sockers FC's Christopher Pitharas battles for a head ball with Laredo Heat's Rafa Montables 05/24/18 evening at Grande Communications Stadium. Tim Fischer/Reporter-Telegram
Photo: Tim Fischer/Midland Reporter-Telegram
When it took the field Thursday night, Midland-Odessa Sockers FC was looking to snap a two-match losing streak.
But an old friend returned to spoil the bid.
Behind a pair of second-half goals and accompanying celebratory handspring backflips, former Sockers FC standout midfielder Guillermo "Memo" Diaz led his Laredo Heat SC to a 3-1 regulation win over Sockers FC in a National Premier Soccer League Lone Star Conference Division match at Grande Communications Stadium.
Diaz, an El Paso native and midfielder who played at UNLV and starred on last year's Sockers FC squad that reached the NPSL Final in a historic run, was thrilled to return to his old stomping grounds and help his new team improve to 2-0 overall with six points in conference play.
"The (Midland) fans are great and I miss being in Midland," Diaz said. "I showed up confident, I knew my team was ready to play. We knew when we were coming in that Midland was a strong team after seeing the film on them. My team showed up to play."
After a first half that saw the visitors struggle with the speed of Grande's turf, Diaz gave his team control early in the second half.
With a stunning fully extended header off of a pinpoint cross by Kevin Hernandez, Diaz put Laredo in front 1-0 in the 51st minute.
He capped off the breakthrough goal with a backflip all too familiar to Sockers FC fans. Then, 11 minutes later Diaz struck again on a breakaway down the nearside of the field, as he placed a shot by Sockers FC goalkeeper Lee Howarth for a 2-0 advantage.
Laredo coach Dana Taylor said it took over 50 minutes to do so, but once his team got a feel for the tricky playing surface, things began to flow more smoothly on offense. Laredo is a squad accustomed to playing on grass on its home field, which had an effect when it wanted to push the pace Thursday.
"We're not a dribbling team, we're a passing team," Taylor said. "As you saw in the second half, we like to move the ball, we like to play it on the ground a lot and we have a lot of quick players. At halftime, I told the guys 'I think you're trying to play one-touch, which you can play on grass. But here (on turf) we have to play two-touch.' Since it's turf, everything will happen faster."
Sockers FC (2-3, 3 points in Lone Star Conference Division) got on the board in the 73rd minute, when Colombian forward Andres Rodriguez ripped a free kick attempt into the upper right corner of the net and cut the deficit to 2-1.
In the 87th minute, Laredo's Tor Trosten sealed the victory with a goal, assisted by Joao Montiero.
Said Taylor on Diaz' banner evening: "Memo, he has been great for us. I knew him coming home would be a great opportunity for him to put his stamp on the game. This was his home last year and he loved it here. All in all for us, it was a good outing."
Diaz, whose team has now outscored its opposition 10-1 in two conference matches, said earning Thursday's result on the road was key early in conference play.
"We know Midland will be one of the top teams in the conference and getting three points here and their house is huge for us," he said.
Follow Will on Twitter: @Will_MRT