Cardinal women improve to 3-0

| September 10, 2011 9:00 PM

WOMEN'S SOCCER

North Idaho 2

Northwest College 0

POWELL, Wyo. - Callie Martin and Anna Valentine scored first-half goals as the Cardinals improved to 3-0.

"It was a good game for us, because Northwest has improved a lot from last year," said NIC coach Dan Hogan, whose team won last year's matchups 3-0 and 4-0. "It was definitely a dogfight in the second half. We had a couple of easy games last week, so making us have to work in the second half was good for us."

NIC plays Bismarck State today in Powell.

First half - 1, NIC, Callie Martin (unassisted), 8:00. 2, NIC, Anna Valentine (Adrienne Moore), 26:00. Second half - none.

Shots on goal - NIC 11, NWC 19.

Saves - NIC, Allysa Howell 4, Hannah Slinkard 4; NWC, Morgan Cox 3.

MEN'S SOCCER

Northwest College 4

North Idaho 1

POWELL, Wyo. - Jackson Barrett scored two second-half goals as the Trappers beat the Cardinals in a nonconference match at Trapper Field.

"Northwest came out fast and energetic today," NIC coach Ken Thompson said. "Early on, they were very energetic, but we managed to hang on and tie the game. Once we started to connect on our passes and defended better, they started to score because our backs were getting fatigued."

NIC (1-1-1) will face Bismarck State today in Powell.

First half - 1, NWC, Demitri Perry (not reported), 23:00. Second half - 2, NIC, Eli Kesselheim (Matt Lieggi), 50:00. 3, NWC, Jackson Barrett (unassisted), 57:00. 4, NWC, not reported, 67:00. 5, NWC, Barrett (unassisted), 72:00.

Shots on goal - NIC 10, NWC 16.

Saves - NIC, Dana Ashton 10; NWC, not available 3.

VOLLEYBALL

NIC opens tourney with 2 wins

SPOKANE - The Cardinals improved their serving in the second match in going 2-0 on the first day of the Inland Northwest Communications Invitational at Spokane Falls Community College.

NIC (5-5) beat Big Bend 25-13, 25-20, 25-23 and Clackamas 25-23, 25-11, 25-16.

"We missed 15 serves against Big Bend - how we won missing 15 serves, I have no idea," Cardinals coach Kandice Kelly said. "Against Clackamas we missed seven serves, but had nine aces."

Against Big Bend, Mariah Smith had 10 kills and four blocks for NIC. Yang Yang had eight kills and seven digs, Sierra Pancho 18 assists, Brooklynn Bradbury 13 assists.

Against Clackamas, Kelly said Janele Vogt "had the best game of her life" with 11 kills on 16 attempts, with two blocks. Smith had seven kills and eight digs, Yang 10 kills, nine digs and three blocks, Shelby Lausen four blocks, Bradbury 10 assists and four aces, and Pancho 24 assists.

NIC plays Blue Mountain today at 9 a.m., then enters into single-elimination play in the 12-team tournament.