West Texas A&M's Ben Everson and Midwestern State's Robert Swann were selected as the Southwest Soccer Conference Preseason Players of the Year for 2008 league officials announced Thursday.

      Everson was recognized as SSC Offensive Preseason Player of the Year, while Swann was named SSC Defensive Preseason Player of the Year.  The honors were voted upon by the league's head coaches and sports information directors and various media representatives.

      Everson, a 5-10 sophomore forward from Middlesbrough, England, received five of nine votes cast for offensive honors to finish in front of MSU's Ahmad Ihmeidan, Tyler Murphy and Kyle Kmiec.

      Everson made the most of his first season, emerging as one of the country's leading goal scorers, with 14 on the season to go along with his team leading point total of 31 to earn first team All-SSC and Freshman of the Year honors.

      Swann, a 6-1 senior defender from Sunderland, England, was the top choice on defense on six of nine ballots, while teammate Jeremy Turner and WTAMU's Shane Taylor also received votes.

      From his center back position, Swann spearheaded a defense that allowed 13 goals in 23 matches including a school-record breaking 12 shutouts. The first-team All-SSC selection also scored six goals and was the team's penalty kicker converting all four of his chances this season.

      The Southwest Soccer Conference (SSC), formed in 2004, is an alliance of five men's soccer teams that span four states and two NCAA Division II conferences.  The membership includes four Lone Star Conference teams (Eastern New Mexico, Midwestern State, Northeastern State and West Texas A&M) and one Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association team (Missouri Southern).

      The slate of games begins in late August with each of the five SSC teams playing the other twice during the regular season.