Medeiros, Crawford extend college careers

Leonardo Medeiros and Legofi Crawford, two forwards from the Northwest College Region IX champion men’s soccer program, will continue their playing careers next fall at four-year universities. The pair recently signed letters of intent. Medeiros will head south to continue play for the Scorpions of the University of Texas at Brownsville. The NAIA-affiliated school compiled a 13-6-2 record this past autumn, finishing as the conference runner-up in the Red River Athletic Conference and advancing to the NAIA national championship tournament.

Medeiros, who came to Powell from Belo Horizonte, Brazil, was a powerful force for the Trappers this past season, unleashing 84 shots on goal and planting 17 of those attempts in the back of the net. He also produced six assists for the Trappers this season.

Medeiros was named the Region IX MVP, a first-team all-region selection and a third-team NJCAA All-American. He becomes the second Trapper athlete in recent years to sign with the University of Texas at Brownsville. Former Trapper volleyball player Paula Barros was a member of the Scorpions’ NAIA national championship team last fall.

Crawford, meanwhile, will take his game in the opposite direction, signing with Montana State University-Billings. Originally from Lakeland, Fla., Crawford was one of the Trappers’ first recruits signed after the school announced it would field a soccer program two years ago.

Like Medeiros, Crawford was a finisher with the ball at his feet. The senior scored seven goals on 33 shot attempts this past season. He also dished out three assists for the Trapper men, who advanced to the District tournament last fall.

Crawford was a Region IX honorable mention selection. He’ll be joining a Yellowjacket program that went 8-8-2 overall.