Cardinal men clinch berth

| October 20, 2011 9:00 PM

MEN'S SOCCER

SPOKANE - Chad Ward scored on a corner kick in the 60th minute as the North Idaho College Cardinals battled to a 1-1 draw with the Community Colleges of Spokane in a nonconference men's soccer match Wednesday, clinching a berth in the West District Playoffs on Nov. 4-5 in Arizona.

"The guys are excited about it," first-year NIC coach Ken Thompson said. "To have our success be up and down, it's kind of a release for some of the guys to be going back to Arizona. I feel we're peaking at the right time."

NIC (6-5-3) had 11 shots on goal in the second half, finishing with 15.

NIC travels to Wenatchee Valley on Sunday.

First half - 1, CCS, Tim Doggett (unassisted), 12:20. Second half - 2, NIC, Chad Ward (unassisted), 60:00.

Shots on goal - NIC 15, CCS 7.

Saves - NIC, Dana Ashton 1; CCS, Ian Graves 5.

VOLLEYBALL

North Idaho d.

USU-Eastern

COEUR d'ALENE - Yang Yang had 18 kills, 11 digs and three blocks as the fifth-ranked Cardinals defeated the Golden Eagles 25-20, 25-20, 25-19 in a Scenic West Athletic Conference match at Christianson Gym.

"We played steady and did just enough to win," NIC coach Kandice Kelly said. "We've got a big match to prepare for on Saturday and need to win it to host the Region 18 tournament."

Wednesday's match was postponed on Oct. 8 due to the death of Eastern Utah men's basketball coach Brad Barton.

Janele Vogt had 11 kills and Sierra Pancho 29 assists for NIC (19-7, 6-1 SWAC), which travels to eighth-ranked Southern Idaho on Saturday.

With a win, NIC maintains a one-game lead in the SWAC standings, with the league champion hosting the Region 18 tournament on Nov. 4-5.