Your future, our focus
POWELL, Wyo. – When Northwest College’s new head soccer Coach Rob Hill stirs his Men’s Soccer Team stew for next fall, the product will have an international flavor.
Spanning four continents, men’s squad recruits from Brazil, England and Botswana will join four Park County players, four from elsewhere in Wyoming, two from surrounding states and four Floridians.
“Recruiting for the men’s team has gone exceptionally well, and the team looks strong,” says Hill, who’s leading Northwest’s first-ever intercollegiate soccer program. Twenty student-athletes have indicated their intentions to play on the men’s squad.
“We’ll announce players who’ve signed for the women’s team soon,” Hill said. “We’ve signed talented women as well, but female athletes seem to have a different—more deliberate—process when it comes to making such decisions. We’re excited about who we’ve recruited for the women’s team…14 players have committed so far, and four more are making campus visits after high school is complete.”
Launched earlier this spring as a student recruitment initiative, men’s and women’s soccer teams are expected to draw about 40 student-athletes to campus, according to Dana Young, NWC’s interim athletic director and vice president for student affairs.
“It’s paying off,” Young said, “because these male recruits tell us the only reason they’re enrolling is because of our new soccer program. We’re excited to fill out the women’s team and get the fall season underway.”
The following student-athletes have signed for NWC’s new men’s team. Hill’s comments on each player are included, along with positions they’ve played.
Kreymer Aurand of Lander, Wyo.—Fast, athletic and skillful player who can play anywhere on the field
Jonathon Chavez of Cody Wyo.—Strong, skillful forward who has an eye for the goal
Cory Christienson of Pocatello Idaho—Midfield player; good feet, skillful and good passer of the ball
Leonardo Cordeiro of Belo Horizonte, Brazil—Fast, skillful midfield/forward who’s walking on; very good addition to the team
Legofi Crawford of Florida (originally from Botswana)—Awarded top goal scorer, offensive MVP for Lake Gibson High School; forward
Alan Duarte of Belo Horizonte, Brazil—Fantastic left midfield player; fast, skillful and a good shot
Adrian Elicerio of Frostproof, Fla.—An excellent and highly skillful midfield player with great vision and shot
Emmanuel Elicerio of Frostproof, Fla.—Excellent midfield player; great skill and strength
Eric Jacobs of Powell, Wyo.—Big, strong centerback; fierce competitor and a good leader
Gavin LaFollette of Cody, Wyo.—Cody High School grad who’s transferring from Yavapai College (Arizona); midfield/striker…a top signing, will end up going division one after this year; Olympic Development Program (ODP) national pool player, underclassmen player of the year; two-time, first-team, all-state player
Zach O'Dell of Cody Wyo.—Midfield player, skillful, quick feet and likes to get forward
Brad Ramsey Cheyenne, Wyo.—Four-year starter for Cheyenne Central High School; member of 2006 and undefeated 2009 state champion teams; three-time, all-state, first-team selection; 2009 4-A Wyoming player of the year; member of the all-Rocky Mountain Region Team; central defense
Christian Rodriguez of Davenport Fla.—Fast and skillful fullback; a fantastic asset at the back
Erik Rodriguez of Frostproof, Fla.—One of the best central defenders around; fantastic recruit who will form a solid central defense partnership
Leonardo Santin of Sau Paulo, Brazil—A walk-on who’s a quick and skillful fullback; he’ll be excellent going forward from the back
Matheus Santos of Belo Horizonte, Brazil—Another fantastic midfield/forward; fast, skillful, with a good shot
Shane Scrivner of Manchester, England—Four-year captain of his high school team, two-year captain of a club team; led assists in county during 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons; led assists in region in 2008-09; 2008 USA Tournament MVP as member of championship team; top midfielder
Marco Tulio of Belo Horizonte, Brazil—Skillful, quick midfield, walk-on player who likes to get forward and has an eye for the goal
Kyle Stewart of Richland, Wash.—Goal keeper; fast, agile, good reactions
Nick Warren of Riverton, Wyo.—Goal keeper; good shot stopper; athletic, agile and good reactions
Originally from England, Hill had stints at two semi-professional teams before pursuing a career in coaching and education. Brought to Cody, Wyo., in 2000 through Major League Soccer Camps, Hill fielded six state championship teams, four in U.S. Youth Soccer and two at the high school level. Hill's success as a coach has seen him travel throughout the United States competing in four Region IV championships including Hawaii, Utah, Spokane and Denver. He has also coached in Florida at the Three vs. Three National Championships and in Las Vegas as the ODP U-18 coach at the Regional Championships.
Hill is joined by assistant coaches Brad Hammond and Quin LaFollette, both of Powell. A starting collegiate player at the Division II level in Oklahoma, Hammond has been a high school boys and girls head soccer coach for five years. Hammond has an NSCAA Advanced Regional Diploma and is an experienced goal-keeper coach. He works as registrar and director of admissions at NWC. LaFollette, who holds a United States Soccer Federation coaching license and coached with Hill for 10 years at both the youth and high school levels, also coached at the Region IV championships on several occasions. He’s the college’s Stock Ag Pavilion and livestock judging coordinator.