NIC men's soccer team falls to Wenatchee Valley

| October 24, 2011 9:00 PM

WENATCHEE, Wash. - With three starters resting due to injury or illness, the North Idaho College men's soccer team fell 2-1 to Wenatchee Valley on Sunday.

Mike Leptich scored in the 82nd minute to avert a shutout for the Cardinals (6-6-3), who had already clinched a berth in the West District championship game Nov. 5 at a site to be determined in Arizona.

NIC played without center back Jake Killian (ankle), midfielder Nick Shriner (flu) and midfielder Kiefer Lee (knee). Cardinals coach Ken Thompson is hopeful all three will be available in two weeks.

"On Wednesday we'd qualified for the district final (by tying Community Colleges of Spokane 1-1), and we'd rather figuratively limp into that game rather than literally limp into that game," Thompson said.

Marco Martinez scored both goals for Wenatchee Valley (3-10-3).

NIC closes out the regular season Saturday at Clark Community College in Vancouver, Wash.

First half - 1, WV, Marco Martinez (unassisted), 16:00. Second half - 2, WV, Martinez (unassisted), 61:00. 3, NIC, Mike Leptich (unassisted), 82:00.

Shots on goal - NIC 16, WV 12.

Saves - NIC, Justin Johnson 6; WV, Ricardo Hurpado 7.